British scientist's mother among two Israeli hostages freed by Hamas

Nurit Cooper, 79, left, and Yocheved Lifshitz, 85, are the third and fourth hostages released after the October 7 attacks

Two more hostages were released by Hamas's military wing out of more than 200 taken in attacks earlier this month.

Yocheved Lifshitz and Nurit Cooper were released for «compelling humanitarian reasons» after mediation by Egypt and Qatar, it said group.

The two Israeli women are the third and fourth hostages released following the release last week of an American mother and her teenage daughter.

There was no immediate confirmation from Israeli authorities, but the International Committee of the Red Cross confirmed that Hamas had released two hostages held captive in the Gaza Strip.

Ms Lifshitz, 85, is a peace activist and the mother of Sharon Lifshitz, a London-based artist and academic.

Speaking to The Telegraph, Sharon Lifshitz, whose father Oded remains a hostage, said she was on her way. to the airport to see her mother.

She added: “While I cannot put into words the relief that she is now safe, I will remain focused on securing the release of my father and everyone else — about 200 innocent people remain hostage in the Gaza Strip.”

Cooper, 79, was also handed over to the Red Cross at the Rafah crossing. Her husband, Amiram Cooper, is also still held by Hamas.

Israel said at least 222 hostages were detained during the October 7 attacks, when Hamas militants stormed Israeli settlements nearby from the Gaza Strip border, killing and kidnapping.

The fate of the hostages and the success of Qatar's attempts to secure their freedom became an important factor in Israel's calculation of when to launch a ground offensive against the coastal enclave.

Israel has vowed to destroy Hamas and is imposing a “new security reality,” but America and European countries have asked for any attack to be delayed to give negotiators more time.

Separate reports emerged Friday that Qatar was negotiating the release of There are up to 50 foreign nationals hostage.

Israel fears that Hamas will use the captives as bargaining chips, drip-fed for their release to slow or thwart a possible invasion.

Any Expected a ground offensive would also involve intense street fighting in a densely populated area with the risk of hostages being used as human shields or killed in the crossfire.

Hamas released the American hostages, mother and daughter, Judith and Nathalie Raanan. end of last week. The group then said the next day that it had also tried to release Ms Yitzhak and Ms Lifshitz, but Israel had «refused to accept them both». Israel called the accusation “propaganda.”