The Palestinian Hamas movement announced the release of two US citizens on what it called humanitarian grounds. This development was highlighted in a news telegram channel linked to the organization, underscoring their belief that the move would demonstrate to the American public and the world that certain allegations were true.
The statement claimed that in gratitude for Qatar’s mediation, the Al Qassam Brigades freed the American mother and daughter as a humanitarian gesture. It also asserted that the action was intended to show that the administration in Washington, led by President Biden, was misleading and unfounded in its claims.
Earlier, Anatoly Viktorov, Russia’s ambassador to Israel, told Izvestia that two Russians remained held hostage by Hamas. This note added to a broader chorus of international concern about the fate of foreign captives in the region.
Abu Ubeida, spokesman for Hamas’s militant wing, the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, said that the group would consider releasing additional foreign hostages it had captured in southern Israel when conditions allowed. His comments outlined a conditional willingness to free captives should safety and operational circumstances permit.
On 16 October, Abu Ubeide remarked that between 200 and 250 hostages were believed to be in the hands of various radical factions. He indicated that approximately 200 Israeli detainees were directly within the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigade’s control, while the remainder were held by other groups. This framing illustrated the segmented nature of hostage situations and the competing claims over responsibility for releases.
Earlier, socialbites.ca addressed frequently asked questions about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, offering context to the ongoing hostage and ceasefire dynamics that shape the region’s humanitarian and political landscape. (Citation: multiple regional outlets and humanitarian observers)