Al-Qassam Brigades has released two additional female captives following Qatari and Egyptian mediation despite Israel previously refusing to receive them.
“With Egyptian and Qatari mediation we released two detainees for humanitarian reasons whom the enemy had previously refused to receive” Abu Obeida the al-Qassam Brigaes spokesman said in a statement on Telegram identifying the pair as 79-year-old Nurit Yitzhak and 85-year-old Yocheved Lifshitz.
Abu Obeida added that the release of the two captives was due to “compelling humanitarian and medical reasons despite the occupation committing more than eight violations of procedures (to deliver them).”
“It was agreed with the mediators that the occupation would adhere to procedures during the handover of the two detainees but it [Israel] violated them” he said without elaborating on the conditions.
Their release comes days after Qatari mediation resulted in the release of two American captives identified as Judith Raanan and Natalie Raanan—a mother and her daughter.
Last Friday Abu Obeida informed Qatar that Al-Qassam was ready to release two additional female captives “for humanitarian reasons” but the move was rejected by Israel.
