Hamas releases two American hostages, Blinken thanks Qatar for mediation
The Palestinian terrorist organization Hamas has released two hostages. These two are American mother and daughter. The mother-daughter duo, residents of Evanston, Illinois, USA, also have Israeli citizenship. Abu Ubaida, a spokesman for Hamas’ military wing al-Qassam Brigades, said in a statement that the two had been released on humanitarian grounds after mediation by Qatar. The spokesperson said that by releasing the hostages, we want to tell the American people and the world that the claims made by President Joe Biden and his fascist administration are false and baseless.
Israel’s Prime Minister’s Office has confirmed the release of mother-daughter Judith Tai Raanan and Natalie Shoshana Raanan from Hamas. Israeli officials said that he has been taken to a military base in Israel where his family members are also present. At the same time, the families of other hostages have expressed happiness and appealed to release the remaining hostages also.
President Biden talked to mother and daughter
US President Joe Biden spoke on phone to the mother and daughter released by Hamas and assured them of help. “I just spoke with two American citizens who were released after being taken hostage by Hamas,” President Biden wrote in a post on Twitter. I told them that the American government will provide them full assistance.
#WATCH | US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken says "About an hour ago, two American citizens held by Hamas since October 7 were released. These two Americans are now safely in the hands of Israeli authorities in Israel…We welcome their release…But there are still ten… pic.twitter.com/wiT5E4qns5
— ANI (@ANI) October 20, 2023
America thanks Qatar government
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken thanked the Qatar government for playing an important role in the release of the hostages. Blinken said that the team from the US Embassy in Israel will soon meet two American hostages from Chicago – a mother and daughter, who were taken hostage by Hamas from Israel on October 7.
He said about 200 other hostages from several countries were still being held, including 10 US citizens. Blinken said Hamas should release all hostages. Blinken said he had spoken to the families of other hostages and promised to work seriously to secure the release of their family members.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, while addressing the media, said, two American citizens held hostage by Hamas have been released. Both are now safe in Israel. We welcome his release. But 10 other American citizens are still missing in this conflict, whose whereabouts have not been found. We know that some of them have been taken hostage by Hamas. Also, about 200 other hostages have also been kept in Gaza. These include men, women, young boys, girls, elderly people from many countries.
Israeli army spokesperson surrounds Hamas
On the release of two American hostages, an Israeli army spokesperson said that after releasing the two women held hostage, Hamas is presenting itself to the world as if it is a great supporter of human rights. Whereas Hamas is actually a brutal terrorist organization, which is still holding children, women and elderly hostages in the Gaza Strip and is continuously committing crimes against humanity.
After the attack on southern Israel on October 7, Hamas claimed to have taken about 200 people hostage. Hamas says 50 other people are being held hostage by other armed groups. The statement said more than 20 hostages were killed in Israeli air strikes.
Hamas has set a condition for the release of 6,000 Palestinians held in Israeli jails in exchange for the release of other hostages. But Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu has made it clear that this condition will not be accepted. Israel has declared war to eliminate Hamas. Israel has said it will work to free the hostages while eliminating Hamas.
Discussion on Russia-Ukraine war, Israel-Hamas conflict
Here, in New Delhi, the top commanders of the Indian Army have had serious discussions on the Russia-Ukraine war and the Israel-Hamas conflict so that by taking lessons from it, preparations can be made to face such threats and challenges in the future. In the Army Commanders Conference held from October 16 to 20 in the national capital, the situation along the Line of Actual Control with China and ways to strengthen the war preparedness of the Indian Army to deal with any contingency were also discussed. Officials said the conference deliberated upon the current and emerging security scenarios and reviewed the operational preparedness of the Indian Army.
