Hamas frees two Israeli women as US advises delaying ground war to allow talks on captives
Rafah (Gaza Strip)(AP): Hamas released two elderly Israeli women held hostage in Gaza on Monday, as the United States expressed increasing concern that the escalating Israel-Hamas war will spark a wider conflict in the region, including attacks on American troops.
The death toll in Gaza was rising rapidly as Israel ramped up airstrikes, flattening residential buildings in what it says was preparation for an eventual ground assault.
The United States advised Israel to delay an expected ground invasion to allow time to negotiate the release of more hostages.
A third small aid convoy from Egypt entered Gaza, where the population of 2.3 million has been running out of food, water and medicine under Israel's two-week seal. With Israel still barring entry of fuel, the UN said its distribution of aid would grind to a halt within days when it can no longer fuel its trucks.
Gaza hospitals are struggling to keep generators running to power life-saving medical equipment and incubators for premature babies.
The release of the two hostages, 85-year-old Yocheved Lifshitz and 79-year-old Nurit Cooper, was confirmed by the International Committee of the Red Cross.
The two women, along with their husbands, were snatched from their homes in the kibbutz of Nir Oz near the Gaza border in Hamas' October 7 rampage through towns of southern Israel. Their husbands were not released.
In a statement, Hamas said it had released them for humanitarian reasons. Hamas released an American woman and her teenage daughter last week.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Telugu actors’ talent should shine in Hollywood too: Telangana CM Revanth Reddy
Hyderabad: Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy, who inaugurated Telugu superstar Allu Arjun’s movie theatre complex ‘Allu Cinemas’ in the city on Thursday, said that Allu Arjun should aim at Hollywood movies, now that he has starred in pan-India movies.
The CM added that the state government aims to make the film industry a part of Telangana’s success story, news agencies have reported.
Stressing that the talent of an artiste is more important than language in the film industry, Reddy said, “Language barriers in the film industry have gone a long time ago, and only talent makes the difference. Allu Arjun has become a notable face in Pan India movies; he should now excel in Hollywood.”
Expressing his pride on the success of Telugu movies, the CM said, “Till now, we used to compare our Telugu movies with Bollywood only in terms of collections. Telugu film industry should be in a position to compete with Hollywood. Our sound (Telugu actors’ talent) should reach there also.”
Further, Reddy lauded the efforts of the actor and his family to build the movie theatre complex.
