Hamas' armed wing, the Izz el-Deen al-Qassam Brigades, has released two U.S. hostages from Gaza - a mother and her daughter - "for humanitarian reasons" in response to Qatari mediation efforts in the war with Israel, its spokesman Abu Ubaida said on Friday.
GAZA, Oct 20 (Reuters) - Hamas' armed wing, the Izz el-Deen al-Qassam Brigades, has released two U.S. hostages from Gaza - a mother and her daughter - "for humanitarian reasons" in response to Qatari mediation efforts in the war with Israel, its spokesman Abu Ubaida said on Friday.
Hamas says it took about 200 hostages during a deadly Oct. 7 rampage carried out from the Gaza Strip on communities and military bases in southern Israel, part of the biggest attack on the country since the 1973 Arab-Israeli war.
Hamas said 50 more are held by other armed groups in the enclave. It said more than 20 hostages have been killed by Israeli air strikes, but has not given any further details.
Abu Ubaida said they released the citizens "for humanitarian reasons, and to prove to the American people and the world that the claims made by (President Joe) Biden and his fascist administration are false and baseless."
Hamas knows that they need to keep this conflict between themselves and Israel. If they piss off any more NATO/Allied countries, the chance that the Gaza invasion will turn into an international coalition increases significantly.
I feel like Israel is crossing the line at this point. They have a right to retaliate against Hamas, but they've already bombarded half of Gaza, and killed lots of fighters and civilians on top of that. The only reason they're going to invade is that it's a very opportune time for them to finally annex the strip of land they've had their eyes on for a long time. Both armies are being despicable, and I feel for anyone caught up in this who has nothing to do with the drama.
Are the hostages currently the best bargaining chip Hamas has, to stop the active ethnic cleansing Isreal has been dying to conduct? Yes.
You are a disgusting human being - but you know that, donāt you? Parroting the talking points of terrorists about a fucking ethnic cleansing in Gaza? What the fuck are you talking about?
CAIRO, Oct 20 (Reuters) - Hamas' armed wing the Izz el-Deen al-Qassam Brigades has released two U.S. hostages - a mother and her daughter - "for humanitarian reasons" in response to Qatari mediation efforts, its spokesman Abu Ubaida said in a statement on Friday.
Abu Ubaida said they released the citizens "for humanitarian reasons, and to prove to the American people and the world that the claims made by (President Joe) Biden and his fascist administration are false and baseless."
Israel responded to the hostage crisis and the Oct. 7 rampage by Hamas gunmen which killed 1,400 Israelis by pounding Gaza with air strikes, killing more than 4,000 people, and has said it will act to free the hostages while wiping out Hamas.
It amassed tanks and troops near the perimeter of the enclave for an expected ground invasion, calling on Palestinians to evacuate the north of Gaza, where it says Hamas is dug in.
Israel has also said that there will be no end to its full blockade of the enclave unless Israeli hostages are freed.
It said more than 20 hostages have been killed by Israeli air strikes, but has not given any further details.
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