Emanuel (Mannie) Fabian is The Times of Israel's military correspondent
IDF Spokesman Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari thanks Egypt for playing a “key role” in the release of two Israeli hostages from Hamas captivity in the Gaza Strip last night.
“We are happy for their return, but at the same time, I want to mention that the husbands of Yocheved [Lifshitz] and Nurit [Cooper] are still being held captive by Hamas. They are just two among the 222 hostages,” he says.
He says the IDF worked for their release and that “Egypt played a key role in the issue. Its efforts are appreciated. We thank Egypt and the Red Cross and we are committed to returning all the hostages home.”
On a Hamas propaganda video showing Lifshitz and Cooper being released by Hamas terrorists, Hagari says, “We must not become confused for even a moment, this is part of the psychological terror that Hamas uses to seemingly show that it is a humanitarian organization.”
The video appears to show one of the hostages turn and say goodbye to her captor.
A still from a video released by Hamas’s armed wing claiming to show hostages Yocheved Lifshitz, left, and Nurit Cooper before their release from captivity. (screen capture)
“It’s a cynical video that won’t make us forget October 7,” he adds.
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From the Liveblog of
Tuesday, October 24, 2023
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