(CNN) — Hamas released two American hostages, Judith Tai Raanan and her 17-year-old daughter, Natalie Raanan, on Friday nearly two weeks after launching a deadly attack in Israel and abducting around 200 people. The hostages released on Friday were handed over to the Red Cross, according to a source familiar with negotiations for their release. They were released on “humanitarian grounds” because the mother is in poor health, the same source said. Biden reiterated that his administration has been “working around the clock” to free Americans held hostage by Hamas. “The families’ headquarters welcomes the release of hostages from Hamas captivity,” the Hostages and Missing Families Forum said in a statement to CNN.

Source: CNN October 21, 2023 13:16 UTC