Two Elderly Israeli Hostages Released by Hamas Transcript

New video showing the helicopter carrying the two freed hostages arriving back in Tel Aviv for medical examination. Hamas still holding more than 200 people captive. The US has advised Israel to delay a ground invasion and allow time to negotiate for the release of more hostages. A third convoy of trucks carrying aid was allowed into Gaza today, but experts say much more is needed.

CBS 2’s Jessica Moore is in our studio now, she’s tracking the latest developments. Jessica?

Well, Christine and Maurice, we saw another glimmer of hope today as those hostages were set free. Meanwhile, Israel says it is ready to launch a ground invasion into Gaza at a moment’s notice as US officials continue to try to buy more time.

New video shows two additional hostages released by Hamas this afternoon, both elderly Israeli women.

I know that she is well enough to speak and well enough to walk.

Sharone Lifshitz says, her 85-year-old mother, Yosheva Lifshitz and her friend, 79-year-old, Noree Cooper were abducted from their kibbutz during the October 7th attack. Israeli officials say Hamas is still holding more than 200 hostages, including the women’s husbands.

I hope we can share in this happiness, and that’s when we can all join together. This is not over. My mom is one way of life.

Israel’s military says it has launched more than 300 airstrikes into Gaza and the West Bank over the past 24 hours, targeting tunnels and Hamas command centers. An Israeli missile hit this mosque in the West Bank. A place of worship the IDF says was being used as an Hamas terrorist compound. The death toll in Gaza continues to spiral at an unprecedented speed with 5,087 people dead and more than 15,000 injured. Palestinian officials say humanitarian aid continues to trickle into Gaza, but the sparse offerings do not include fuel.

Without electricity this hospital will just be a mass grave.

The State Department says up to 600 Americans are trapped in Gaza as conditions worsen.

They’re very scared. They just have lots of questions that are hard to answer, like when can we leave, or why is all the bombardment happening to everybody?

Sources tell CBS news, the US is pressing Israel to delay a ground invasion and focus on negotiating the release of the remaining 218 hostages. But the IDF said, late Monday, an invasion of Gaza by air, land and sea will happen “soon.”

As we speak now, the ground forces are ready and prepared, and once they will be ordered by the cabinet to do so. I admit there are sad stories coming out of Gaza, but they are not Israel’s making, they are the making of Hamas.

One of those sad stories, of course, the lack of fuel, but the IDF spokesman says there are fuel supplies in Gaza. He says they’re being controlled by Hamas and not being given to the Palestinian people. As for the two hostages released today, both women are undergoing medical evaluations at the hospital in Tel Aviv. Christine.

Jessica, thank you.