Hamas releases two hostages amid Israeli bombardment

Gaza-based terror group Hamas on Monday released two Israeli hostages to the custody of the Red Cross, the humanitarian group stated that day.

The terror group seized 199 hostages as part of an incursion into Israeli territory on Oct. 7. The raid caught the Israel Defense Forces flat-footed and resulted in considerable civilian casualties. The IDF has since maintained a steady bombardment of the Gaza Strip in preparation for a possible ground assault.

The hostage release saw the group relinquish custody of two Israeli women in the wake of a major Israeli rocket assault on the region, according to the Washington Post. The death toll from the bombardment thus far has reportedly exceeded 5,000.

Hamas on Friday released two Americans citizens who had been held since the raid.

"In response to Qatari efforts, Al-Qassam Brigades released two American citizens (a mother and her daughter) for humanitarian reasons, and to prove to the American people and the world that the claims made by Biden and his fascist administration are false and baseless," Hamas said at the time.

The ongoing conflict has prompted concerns of a wider war and has already resulted in cross-border exchanges between Israel and its neighbors in the north, Syria and Lebanon. Iran, a major sponsor of Hamas, has also become increasingly bellicose amid the diplomatic crisis and concerns about that its myriad proxy organizations in the region may attack western forces in a bid to escalate the already tense situation.

The USS Carney on Friday intercepted missiles fired by the Iran-backed Houthi militants in the Yemeni Civil War, though the intended target remains unclear.

Ben Whedon is an editor and reporter for Just the News. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter.