Title: Hamas Releases Elderly Israeli Kidnap Victims, Spouses Still Held Captive
In a dramatic development, Hamas has released two elderly Israeli kidnapping victims, Yochaved Lifshitz (85) and Nurit Cooper (79), after they were abducted during a murderous attack on Saturday. The Prime Minister’s Office confirmed the release on behalf of the person responsible for abducted and missing persons, while also highlighting that their spouses remain in captivity with the terrorist organization.
In a video released by Hamas, Lifshitz and Cooper were seen dressed in Arab attire, escorted by Hamas operatives, as they were handed over to the Red Cross. A handshake between Lifshitz and one of the terrorists was captured in the video before the duo entered a Red Cross ambulance. They were later transferred to an Egyptian ambulance at the Rafah crossing and flown to Ichilov Hospital for medical tests.
The IDF and security forces have relentlessly worked to secure the release of the abducted individuals, with the hopes of reuniting them with their families. Although Lifshitz and Cooper have been freed, the 85-year-old husband of Cooper, named Amiram, and the 83-year-old husband of Lifshitz, named Oded, remain in captivity along with other abductees.
The Israeli government expressed gratitude to Egypt for their assistance and commended the Red Cross for their lifesaving role in the release operation. Promising to continue their efforts, the government, IDF, and security establishment pledged to exhaust all possibilities to locate and return the remaining abductees safely.
In related news, it was revealed that Hamas intends to release approximately 50 hostages of foreign nationality as a means to alleviate pressure on the organization. The IDF spokesman revealed that a total of 222 soldiers, civilians, and foreign workers have been kidnapped by Hamas, indicating a high number of captives still held by the terrorist group.
This ongoing situation has generated concerns, and the international community continues to monitor and urge for the prompt and safe release of all remaining individuals in captivity.