Peace activist among 2 Israeli hostages released by Hamas (WATCH)

First Published Oct 24, 2023, 8:14 AM IST | Last Updated Oct 24, 2023, 8:14 AM IST

Two Israelis, Yocheved Lifshitz and Nurit Cooper, have been released by Hamas from captivity following which they have been transferred into the custody of the Israel Defense Forces. They are rushed to a specialized hospital in Israel, where arrangements have been made for their care and reunion with their families, as confirmed by a statement from the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office.

The statement expresses gratitude to Egypt for their assistance and acknowledges the crucial life-saving role played by the Red Cross. It also notes the involvement of the Israeli military in facilitating the release of Lifshitz and Cooper.

According to the statement, the IDF and various security forces have diligently worked through various channels in recent days to secure the release of the hostages and surmount the numerous challenges presented by Hamas.

Hamas's Qassam Brigades released a video depicting the transfer of hostages Nurit Cooper and Yocheved Lifshitz to the Red Cross. In the video, the two women, dressed in matching purple attire, walk unsteadily while holding the hands of masked gunmen who also offer them snacks and beverages. Throughout much of the footage, both hostages appear visibly terrified. Subsequently, the pair is observed walking towards a vehicle where an individual wearing a Red Cross vest awaits them. Just before the end of the video, Lifshitz extends her hand to shake that of one of the gunmen as she walks away. To note, Lifshitz is a peace activist who together with her husband helped sick Palestinians in Gaza get to hospitals for years

A nurse from Ichilov Hospital in Tel Aviv has reported in a statement that Nurit Cooper and Yocheved Lifshitz, shortly after their release from captivity under Hamas in Gaza, appear to be in good health. The two elderly women were able to communicate and shared an emotional reunion with their families, as mentioned by the nurse.

Currently, they are in a resting phase before medical professionals conduct more comprehensive tests to assess their precise medical condition. It's worth noting that both of them were on medications that they likely could not access during their captivity of over two weeks. The nurse anticipates having a clearer understanding of their conditions by morning.

Meanwhile, The Wall Street Journal has reported that negotiations concerning the release of 50 hostages with dual citizenship encountered a significant hurdle on Monday. This hurdle revolves around the issue of fuel deliveries into the Gaza Strip, an issue to which Israel has expressed opposition.

Thomas White, who serves as the Gaza director for the UN agency dedicated to Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, has indicated that the agency is left with only three days of fuel reserves for its trucks. The United Nations warns that the distribution of aid will come to a standstill when these trucks can no longer be refueled.

In parallel, Gaza's hospitals are grappling with the challenge of maintaining functional generators to power essential medical equipment and incubators designed for premature babies.

It's important to note that Israel holds concerns that the supplied fuel might be appropriated by Hamas for military purposes. This concern arises as Israel prepares for a potential invasion of the territory with the aim of eliminating the terror group.

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