They were the first hostages confirmed by both sides in the conflict to be freed since Hamas gunmen burst into Israel and killed 1,400 people, mainly civilians, and abducted around 200 others. Abu Ubaida, a spokesperson for Hamas' armed wing, said the hostages were released in part "for humanitarian reasons" in response to Qatari mediation efforts. HEAVY BOMBARDMENTPalestinian media reported heavy Israeli bombardment in Gaza overnight, including a strike on a house in Jabalia in northern Gaza that killed at least 19 people. [1/8]Judith Tai Raanan and her daughter Natalie Shoshana Raanan, U.S. citizens who were taken as hostages by Palestinian Hamas militants, walk while holding hands with Brig.-Gen. Israel has already told all civilians to evacuate the northern half of the Gaza Strip, which includes Gaza City.

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Persons: Netanyahu, Benjamin Netanyahu, Judith Tai Raanan, Natalie, Gal Hirsch, Uri Raanan, we'll, Abu Ubaida, Israel, Yoav Gallant, Gallant, it's, Natalie Shoshana Raanan, Antony Blinken, Biden, Antonio Guterres, Nandita Bose, Nidal, Idrees Ali, Stephen Coates, Diane Craft Organizations: Gaza Hamas, Friday, Reuters, Israeli, Brig, Palestinian, of Saint, United, Israel, Hamas, West Bank, Thomson Locations: Gaza, GAZA, JERUSALEM, Israel, Bannockburn , Illinois, Chicago, Jabalia, U.S, Jerusalem, of Saint Porphyrius, Gaza City, Iran, United States, United Nations, Rafah, Egypt, Palestinian, Jericho, Washington