Meanwhile #Israel's defence minister, Yoav Gallant, has said Israel will sever all ties with the #Gaza Strip once its war with #Hamas is over -- it would, as he put it, end its "responsibility" for life there.
The #Hamas authorities say #Israeli attacks have now killed more than 4100 people.
Over 1400 Israelis were killed in Hamas' unprecedented extremist attacks within Israel earlier this month
Govt of #Israel shares first picture of Judith and Natalie #Raanan - two of the #hostages kidnapped in the #Hamas attack
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/world-middle-east-67165505?ns_mchannel=social&ns_source=twitter&ns_campaign=bbc_live&ns_linkname=6532e880364b3f1612ec5b0f%26First%20image%20of%20freed%20hostages%262023-10-20T20%3A53%3A50.899Z&ns_fee=0&pinned_post_locator=urn:asset:551c3470-61de-499f-a88d-edeb187ae585&pinned_post_asset_id=6532e880364b3f1612ec5b0f&pinned_post_type=share
They were in Israel to celebrate the 85th birthday of Judith's mother, Tamar Raanan, and Natalie’s graduation from high school. They were taken from Kibbutz Nahal Oz on 7 Oct.
Another 8 family members are missing from Kibbutz Be'eri, and three were killed, incl a carer.
Blinken says US officials will meet with the released #hostages as soon as possible.
Blinken also says there's still 10 additional Americans who remain unaccounted for.
"No family anywhere should have to experience this torture," he says
"I want to thank the government of Qatar for their very important assistance," he says, but also states that he "can't speak publicly" about the details.
The #Palestinian Red Crescent says that #Israeli forces have issued an evacuation order to Al-Quds hospital in #Gaza.
The hospital is currently home to over 400 patients and 12,000 displaced civilians, according to the Red Crescent.
BREAKING NEWS
The #Rafah crossing has opened, with live footage showing trucks entering the border crossing from #Egypt into #Gaza.
It's unclear how long the crossing will remain open for. #Israel has so far agreed to allow 20 trucks into Gaza - carrying food, water and medicine - but no fuel - into Gaza through the southern crossing from Egypt.
#Egypt is holding a peace summit today to discuss the deepening conflict between Israel and the Hamas group in Gaza.
The list of attendees compiled by Reuters include #Egyptian Pres al-Sisi, #Palestinian Pres Abbas, UK Foreign Sec Cleverly, UN sec gen Guterres, and several heads of state in the Arab region, among others.
Notably, there are no #Israeli, #Hamas, US and #Iranian representatives on the list.
The Egyptian organisers say the main goal is a ceasefire.
#Hamas 'hostages : Who are the people taken from #Israel ?
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-67053011
V #BBC Frank Gardner:
'there is the possibility that more hostages could be released by negotiation.
But Israel has vowed to wipe out Hamas and has hundreds of thousands of troops poised to go into Gaza.
If and when that incursion begins it will be considerably harder for Qatar, or any other mediators, to negotiate the release of more hostages.'
V CPJ:
Since the conflict started with an unprecedented #hamas attack on #Israel two weeks ago, 22 journalists have been confirmed dead:
18 Palestinian,
3 Israeli,
1 Lebanese.
8 journalists were reported injured.
3 journalists were reported missing or detained.
https://cpj.org/2023/10/journalist-casualties-in-the-israel-gaza-conflict/
The Israel-Gaza war has taken an unprecedented toll on Gazan journalists since Israel declared war on Hamas following its attack on Israel on October 7, 2023. As of June 16, 2025, CPJ’s preliminary investigations showed at least 185 journalists and media workers were among the more than tens of thousands killed in Gaza, the West Bank, Israel,...
Palestinians under attack as settler violence surges in the West Bank
The #Israeli military says it's attacked "a series of military targets" of the Lebanese #Hezbollah group in the last few hours, in response to the "firing of anti-tank missiles and launches into Israeli territory last night".
The targets struck include military compounds and operational infrastructure used by the group, as well as an anti-tank launcher located at the border and aimed at Israel, the Israel Defense Forces #IDF says
V Haaretz:
#Berlin has documented 70 anti-Semitic incidents since #Hamas attacked #Israel. This is three times as many verified incidents as in the same period last year, when 25 cases were documented. The initiative has received numerous further tip-offs which have yet to be verified.
BBC reported yesterday as well the alarming rise of #antisemitic incidents in the UK
Kriszta Satori
David Bruchmann