WASHINGTON, Oct. 21 US President Joe Biden said that spoke with two American women who were released from two weeks of captivity in the Gaza Strip.
““Just spoke with two American women who were held hostage by Hamas and who were released today. I informed them that their government fully supports them in recovery and recovery,” Biden wrote on the social network X.
Through the mediation of Qatar, a mother and daughter, who have Israeli citizenship in addition to American citizenship, returned to Israel. They were taken hostage on October 7 during a Hamas attack in southern Israel. American authorities say they do not know the whereabouts of ten more compatriots, and do not rule out that at least some of them remain in Palestinian captivity.
On the morning of October 7, Israel was subjected to an unprecedented-scale rocket attack from the Gaza Strip as part of Operation Al-Aqsa Flood, announced by the military wing of the Palestinian Hamas movement. After this, the organization’s fighters penetrated into the border areas in southern Israel. In response, the Israel Defense Forces launched Operation Iron Swords against Hamas in the Gaza Strip. Within a few days, the Israeli military took control of all populated areas near the border with Gaza and began carrying out air strikes on targets, including civilians, in the strip. Israel also announced a complete blockade of the Gaza Strip: the supply of water, food, electricity, medicine, and fuel was suspended.
The number of victims in the Gaza Strip reached 4,137 people, over 13 thousand were injured. In Israel, according to local authorities, more than 1,300 people were killed. The Russian Embassy reported that during the escalation of the conflict, 19 Russians were killed, two are being held hostage, and seven are listed as missing. According to various sources, about 150 Israelis may be held captive by Hamas. The movement itself stated that there are about 200-250 prisoners in the Gaza Strip.
The Russian Foreign Ministry called on the parties to stop hostilities. According to the position of Russian President Vladimir Putin, the settlement of the Middle East crisis is possible only on the basis of a “two-state” formula approved by the UN Security Council, which provides for the creation of an independent Palestinian state within the 1967 borders with its capital in East Jerusalem.
The Palestinian-Israeli conflict, related to the territorial interests of the parties, has been a source of tension and clashes in the region for many decades. A UN decision with the active role of the USSR in 1947 determined the creation of two states — Israel and Palestine, but only the Israeli one was created. Israel, while declaring agreement with the two-state principle, did not completely liberate the Palestinian territories.