A spokesman for the armed branch of the Hamas movement Qassam Brigades, Abu Obeida, stated late Sunday evening on Telegram that the two women would be released. According to the spokesman, this should happen during Monday, with “the same procedures as the two American prisoners” who were released last Friday. Hamas claims on Monday evening that the other two women have now been released from Gaza for humanitarian reasons. There are to be two elderly Israeli women, according to the Reuters news agency. The release should have been organized by the Red Cross, informs the organization itself. The news agency also writes that the Israeli TV channel 12 reports that the families of the hostages must have been informed of the releases. The Israeli army, the IDF, said earlier on Monday that it could confirm that militant Palestinians held 222 people captive in the Gaza Strip. This figure must include the hostages who have now been released. Among the other hostages were also supposed to be foreign nationals. How many are soldiers and civilians is unclear, but many are children. Believes Hamas is trying to exert pressure through the United States Professor at the Staff School in the Armed Forces, Tormod Heier, believes it is no coincidence that these two who were released on Friday were American citizens. Research leader and lieutenant colonel Tormod Heier. Photo: Ole Berg-Rusten / NTB – This means that Hamas has a vested interest in trying to influence American politicians to exert pressure on Israel to moderate the warfare as much as possible, he says to news. – Maybe also to buy time. Because the longer time passes, the more time Hamas will also have to prepare on its side. Last week, President Joe Biden asked the US Congress to support an aid package with military support for Israel. At the same time, Biden wants Israel to wait with a ground invasion of Gaza until several of the hostages are released, writes the New York Times. Biden visited Tel Aviv last Wednesday, October 18. Photo: EVELYN HOCKSTEIN / Reuters – Israel is so dependent on American political, military and financial support. So the advice will of course weigh very heavily, says Heier, but adds: – Since there has been a leak that the ground invasion will start within 48 hours, it is a sign that the window of opportunity to get more hostages out may be in about to be closed. Believes the hostages are “underground” Monday’s release comes after a night of several rocket attacks against what Israel refers to as “Hamas targets” in the Gaza Strip. War historian Asgeir Ueland believes that Hamas keeps its hostages “underground”, i.e. the tunnel system in which Hamas largely operates. Ueland is in the Galilee in the north of Israel. Photo: Private – Then it is difficult both to find them and for them to be hit by any kind of attack. The tunnels must also have been exposed to attack from the Israeli side, say the Israeli army and the Shin Bet security service in a joint statement on Monday. – I don’t think the hostages will play a role in the big picture, but there is of course a need to take care of them, says Ueland, and adds that he believes the ground invasion of Gaza will take place regardless of whether they have been brought home or not . When news last spoke to him on 14 October, Ueland said that such a ground invasion would happen in the near future. Israel has previously announced that they will enter Gaza with ground forces. Photo: THOMAS COEX / AFP It is difficult to say why the Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, is still holding on, he now believes. – Now all four divisions are ready in the marching area. They have been ready to go in for several days. – But from Benjamin Netanyahu’s side, it is a political way of thinking. He knows his days are numbered. The days he launched an invasion of Gaza on the ground, we are approaching Netanyahu’s last day as prime minister.
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The Red Cross confirms that Hamas has released two hostages – news Urix – Foreign news and documentaries
