From al Jazeera

Hamas: We tried to release two captives – Israel refused them

Hamas’s al-Qassam Brigades spokesman Abu Obeida says he informed Qatar it was going to release two Israeli captives, but Israeli authorities refused.

“We informed our Qatari brothers yesterday evening that we would be releasing Nourit Yitshaq and Yokhefed Lifshitz for humanitarian reasons and without expecting anything in return.

However, the Israeli occupation government refused to accept them,” he said on Telegram.

Al Jazeera contacted the Israeli military and prime minister’s office but did not immediately receive a response.

On Friday, Hamas released two American hostages, Judith Raanan and her daughter Natalie Raanan. They were the first captives freed since fighters from the Palestinian group carried out an attack on October 7, killing at least 1,400 people and taking about 200 others back to Gaza