Two more hostages, elderly women, were released on Monday by Hamas in Gaza. The release was brokered by Egypt and Qatar, and there is video footage of the handover. However, their husbands are still being held captive, along with approximately 220 other hostages, including 10 Americans. The ongoing hostage situation has complicated Israeli airstrikes on Gaza, as negotiations for the release of the remaining captives continue. Israel's military has gathered troops and tanks along the border with Gaza, but has not yet launched a ground operation.
The situation in Gaza remains dire, with heavy bombardment by Israeli forces and sound of bombs everywhere. The Biden administration has stated that they are working tirelessly to get all Americans out of Gaza. The release of the two Israeli hostages is seen as a positive sign, as well as the involvement of the U.S. and Qatar in securing the release of two American hostages.
Meanwhile, there are growing calls for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza, with the hope of allowing more hostages, especially women, children, and the elderly, to escape from Hamas. A recent poll shows that a majority of Israelis support a plan where Hamas releases the hostages in exchange for the Israeli government releasing Palestinian children held in Israeli jails. The international community, including the U.S. president and the UN secretary general, continues to push for a resolution to the crisis and the delivery of aid to Palestinians in Gaza.
As the hostage situation continues, the question remains: Will Israel's military walk into Gaza soon to rescue the remaining hostages?