Hamas has claimed to have released two US nationals who were being held hostage in Gaza.
The Daily Mail understands the names of the freed hostages are Judith Ranaan and Natalie Ranaan, a mother and daughter from Chicago who were visiting Israel for a relative’s birthday when they were kidnapped.
A spokesperson for the US-designated terror group announced the release of the hostages on Friday, nearly two weeks after its October 7 surprise attack on southern Israel left 1,400 Israelis dead, and at least 199 abducted as hostages.
Initial confirmation of the hostage release came from Fox News reporter Trey Yingst, reporting from Israel, and Israeli journalist Almog Boker, who said the two released hostages were a mother and daughter.
A senior US official was unable to immediately confirm the reports, but told DailyMail.com that the State Department planned to release further information in a briefing with reporters later on Friday.
Israelis, whose close ones were taken hostage during a Hamas attack, demonstrate during a meeting between US President Joe Biden and Israeli leaders earlier this week
Abu Ubaida, a spokesman for Hamas’ armed wing the Izz el-Deen al-Qassam Brigades, said the mother an daughter were released ‘for humanitarian reasons’ in response to Qatari mediation efforts.
In a blustering statement, Abu Ubaida said the move would ‘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 Hamas massacre and hostage crisis by pounding Gaza with air strikes, killing more than 4,000 people according to Hamas, and has said it will act to free the hostages while wiping out the terror group.
Israeli tanks and troops are amassed 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.
Hamas says it has some 200 hostages and that 50 more are held by other armed groups in the enclave.
The group claimed more than 20 hostages have been killed by Israeli air strikes, but has not given any further details.
Developing story, more to follow.
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