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**Hamas Frees American Hostages in Gaza, Israel Says**

KHAN YOUNIS, Gaza Strip (AP) ÔÇö In a significant development, Hamas has released an American woman and her teenage daughter who were held hostage in Gaza, according to Israel. This marks the first release of hostages from the approximately 200 people who were abducted by the militant group during its violent attack on Israel on October 7th.

Judith Raanan and her 17-year-old daughter, Natalie, are now in the custody of the Israeli military, as confirmed by an army spokesman. Hamas stated that it released them for humanitarian reasons through an agreement with the Qatari government.

This release comes amid increasing expectations of a ground offensive by Israel, aimed at eliminating Hamas militants who currently govern Gaza. Israeli authorities have clarified that they do not intend to gain long-term control over the small territory, which is home to around 2.3 million people. While the Israeli military continues its airstrikes on Gaza, efforts are being made to bring aid from Egypt to desperate families and hospitals. Meanwhile, fighting between Israel and militant groups in Lebanon has led to evacuations of border towns in both countries, adding to concerns of a wider conflict.

Judith and Natalie Raanan were visiting Israel from their home in suburban Chicago to celebrate Jewish holidays when they were caught up in the attack. They were in the kibbutz of Nahal Oz, near Gaza, when Hamas and other militants stormed into southern Israeli towns, resulting in hundreds of casualties and the abduction of 203 individuals.

The family had no contact with Judith and Natalie since the incident, and it was later revealed by U.S. and Israeli officials that they were being held captive in Gaza. U.S. President Joe Biden personally spoke with the freed hostages and their relatives. The International Committee of the Red Cross, responsible for transporting the Americans from Gaza to Israel, described their release as “a glimmer of hope.”

Families of other hostages have welcomed this release and have appealed for more captives to be freed. Hamas announced that it is working with mediators to resolve the hostage situation, given favorable security conditions. The group affirmed its commitment to ongoing mediation efforts led by Egypt, Qatar, and other nations.

Qatar has stated its intention to continue dialogue with Israel and Hamas, with the ultimate goal of securing the release of all hostages and deescalating the current crisis.

Israeli military spokesman Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari has reiterated that Israel remains committed to returning hostages and locating those still missing, emphasizing that their goal has not changed. He stated, “We are continuing the war against Hamas and are prepared for the next phase of the conflict.”

With the possibility of an Israeli ground assault on the horizon, casualties on both sides are likely to increase substantially due to urban warfare. The war has already claimed over 1,400 lives in Israel, mostly civilians affected by the Hamas incursion. In Gaza, over 4,100 people have been killed, according to the Health Ministry run by Hamas, although the exact number is disputed. This figure includes fatalities resulting from a recent hospital explosion.

In discussions regarding Israel’s long-term plans for Gaza, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant outlined a three-stage plan which suggests that Israel does not intend to reoccupy the territory it withdrew from in 2005. The plan involves targeted airstrikes and potential ground maneuvers to eliminate Hamas, followed by further efforts to defeat remaining pockets of resistance. Finally, a new security regime would be established in Gaza, and Israel would relinquish responsibility for life in the area, Gallant explained.

However, the identity of the potential governing authority in Gaza and the specific details of the proposed security regime remain unclear.

Israel previously occupied Gaza from 1967 until 2005 when it withdrew its settlements and soldiers. Two years later, Hamas assumed control of the territory. Some Israelis hold the withdrawal from Gaza responsible for the intermittent violence that has persisted since then.

The humanitarian situation in Gaza continues to deteriorate as supplies have been largely cut off, leading to severe shortages of fuel, food, water, and medicine. Two weeks after Israel announced a deal to allow Egypt to send aid, the border remains closed as repairs are made to the damaged Rafah crossing. Over one million people have been displaced in Gaza, with many following Israel’s evacuation orders for the northern part of the territory. However, Israel has continued its airstrikes in southern Gaza, where Palestinians had been instructed to seek shelter. Despite Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s assurance of “safe zones,” Israeli military spokesman Nir Dinar clarified on Friday that “there are no safe zones.”

Some Palestinians who fled the north have returned, citing bombings and challenging living conditions in the south, according to the U.N. human rights office.

Gaza’s overwhelmed hospitals are rationing their diminishing resources. The largest hospital in Gaza, Shifa Hospital, has been operating its generators at minimum capacity to conserve fuel while providing power to critical departments such as the intensive care unit. Other departments are operating in darkness. Hospital director Mohammed Abu Selmia expressed uncertainty about how long the remaining fuel will last, emphasizing the difficulty of treating the large number of victims from Israeli airstrikes due to shortages of medical supplies and water.

The Palestine Red Crescent Society reported receiving a threat from the Israeli military to bomb Al-Quds Hospital. Israel has demanded the immediate evacuation of the hospital, which currently houses over 400 patients and thousands of displaced civilians seeking refuge on its grounds, according to the Society.

Residents of Gaza have reported heavy airstrikes in Khan Younis, a town in the southern part of the territory where a makeshift camp for displaced people is located. Ambulances have transported men, women, and children to local hospitals for treatment.

Late Thursday, an Israeli airstrike struck a Greek Orthodox church in Gaza City that was sheltering displaced Palestinians. Gaza’s Health Ministry reported the deaths of 16 Palestinian Christians. Former U.S. Representative Justin Amash, a Libertarian from Michigan, confirmed that several of his relatives were among the victims. The Israeli military stated that the church was targeted due to its proximity to a Hamas command center, resulting in damage to the church’s wall.

Efforts to repair the road at the Rafah crossing with Egypt, the only entry point into Gaza not controlled by Israel, are ongoing. Trucks have been unloading gravel, and bulldozers and other equipment are being utilized to fill large craters. However, differences persist regarding the method of delivering aid. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is working with Egypt, Israel, the U.S., and other stakeholders to resolve the “standstill” preventing the entry of trucks, according to U.N. deputy spokesman Farhan Haq.

Guterres aims to ensure a meaningful number of trucks can cross the border daily, expedite inspections of cargo, and ensure that U.N. authorities have the necessary fuel to distribute supplies within Gaza. Over 200 trucks and approximately 3,000 tons of aid are currently positioned near the crossing. Israel has stipulated that the supplies should only be provided to civilians and has warned of preventing any diversion of aid by Hamas. It remains unclear whether fuel for hospital generators will be allowed into Gaza.

An Egyptian official reported that two aid-laden trucks entered the Egyptian side of the border crossing early Saturday but did not progress into Gaza. This official spoke on condition of anonymity, as they were not authorized to speak with the media.

Israel has evacuated its own communities near Gaza and Lebanon, relocating residents to hotels elsewhere in the country. Hezbollah, the militant group based in Lebanon with a vast arsenal of long-range rockets, has engaged in near-daily exchanges of fire with Israel along the border. The group has hinted that it might join the conflict if Israel pursues the eradication of Hamas. Iran has expressed support for both Hamas and Hezbollah.

Palestinian militants have launched relentless rocket attacks on Israel, with over 6,900 rockets fired since October 7th, as reported by Israel. Tensions have also escalated in the Israeli-occupied West Bank. Israel has conducted targeted attacks on militants throughout the region. In clashes on Friday, two Palestinian teenagers were killed in the West Bank, adding to the toll of over 80 Palestinians killed in the past two weeks.

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