Hamas releases two American hostages taken from Israel

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Hamas has released two US hostages captured during its devastating assault on Israel almost two weeks ago, amid intense diplomatic efforts to ease tensions in the Middle Eastern conflict and deliver humanitarian aid to civilians.

The women — named by the Israeli prime minister’s office as mother and daughter Judith Tai Raanan and Natalie Shoshana Raanan — were snatched by Hamas militants from the Nahal Oz kibbutz in southern Israel on October 7, in what was the deadliest attack on the country in its 75-year history.

Their release follows a whirlwind visit to Israel by US president Joe Biden this week ahead of a possible ground invasion of Gaza by Israeli troops that is intended to destroy Hamas’s ability to launch terrorist attacks but risks widening the war and further harming civilians.

Biden had put the release of American hostages high on his agenda since the start of the war — and said on Friday he was “overjoyed” that they would be reunited with their families.

The president also said the US had “not ceased our efforts to secure the release of those who are still being held”, and thanked Qatar and Israel “for their partnership in this work”. 

US secretary of state Antony Blinken later told reporters there remained 10 additional Americans who were “unaccounted for” in the conflict, and “some” were hostages with Hamas, along with an estimated 200 other people held in Gaza.

“They include men, women, young boys, young girls, elderly people, from many nations,” Blinken said. “Every single one of them should be released.”

Blinken had discussed the issue during talks with Qatar’s prime minister as part of a tour of the region prior to Biden’s visit. Qatar is a US ally which also hosts Hamas’s political office.

Israel has confirmed that at least 203 people were taken hostage during the raid. Hamas…