The two American women who were earlier released by Hamas in Gaza have arrived in Israel, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office announced.

It’s about her Judith and her 18-year-old daughter Natalie Raanan, who were abducted by the Palestinian Islamist group from the Nahal Oz kibbutz, near the border with the Gaza Strip, on October 7. They are from Chicago and often visit their relatives in this particular kibbutz. They were there when the attack by Hamas took place, according to their family.

A mother and daughter are on their way to a military base in central Israel after being picked up earlier by the Israeli army and security services at the border with Gaza.

Hamas’s armed wing spokesman Abu Ubaydah issued a statement earlier Friday announcing the release, “the first since the militant group’s devastating attacks on Israel.”

Abu Ubaidah said the hostages were released in response to Qatar’s mediation efforts, “for humanitarian reasons and to prove to the American people and the world that the claims of Biden and his fascist government are false and baseless.”

An Israeli official stressed that the release of the two hostages was a unilateral step taken by Hamas and was not made as part of an agreement.

The release of the American hostages from Gaza comes “after several days of continuous communication” with all parties, Reuters reported, according to a ministry spokesman. of Foreign Affairs of Qatar.

Qatar hopes that the dialogue will lead to “release all civilian hostages of all nationalities”, added Foreign Ministry spokesman Majed Al-Ansari.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) believe at least 203 people are being held hostage in the Gaza Strip. An Israeli military statement earlier today said the majority of hostages were alive.

Biden: We will not stop until we secure the release of all the hostages

“Today, we secured the release of two American women who were captured by Hamas during the October 7 terrorist attack on Israel. Our fellow citizens have suffered a terrible ordeal these past 14 days and I am very happy that they will soon be reunited with their family, who are full of fear. These individuals and their family will have the full support of the United States government as they recover and heal, and we should all respect their privacy at this time.” said Joe Biden characteristically after the release of the first two hostages.

He reiterated that his government “he works around the clock” for the release of Americans held hostage by Hamas. “We will not stop our efforts to secure the release of those still detained” he said.

The governments of Qatar and Israel were partners in the liberation efforts, said the president who thanked the two countries.

“Jill and I hold close to our hearts all the families of missing Americans. And, as I told these families when I spoke with them last week — we will not stop until we bring their loved ones home. As president, I have no higher priority than the safety of Americans being held hostage around the world.” Biden concluded.