Israel-Hamas War: Two Elderly Israeli Hostages Arrive In Tel Aviv After Their Release; Gaza Health Ministry Says Death Toll Tops 5,0001 min read
Hamas released two elderly hostages on Monday, bringing the total to four.
Nurit Cooper and Yochved Lifshitz landed in Tel Aviv, Israel early Tuesday.
The Palestinian militant organization announced the release of Nurit Cooper and Yochved Lifshitz, and the International Committee of the Red Cross confirmed the news.
Their transfer follows the Friday release of two American hostages. It’s been more than two weeks since Hamas launched its assault on Israel, killing at least 1,400 people and taking more than 200 hostages.
Health authorities in Gaza said over 5,000 people have been killed since the Oct. 7 start of the war between Palestinian militant group Hamas and Israel. More than 15,000 have been injured, the authorities said.
CNBC could not independently verify these numbers.
The Israel Defense Forces said Monday that its soldiers were conducting a “variety of training exercises in order to improve the forces’ readiness and capabilities for ground operations in the Gaza Strip.”
Still, a full surrender of Hamas and the return of Israeli hostages could end Israel’s war in the Gaza Strip, Israel Defense Forces spokesperson Jonathan Conricus told ABC Radio Melbourne
