Hamas said it had released two American hostages from captivity on Friday. A statement from the group’s armed wing released on its Telegram channel said a mother and her daughter were released “in response to Qatari efforts”. The group continued that the release was for “humanitarian reasons”.

A source close to Israel’s foreign ministry confirmed to The Independent that two Americans would be released via the Rafah crossing into Egypt.

The release has not yet been officially confirmed by the IDF or the US State Department.

Roughly 200 people were taken hostage and 1,400 killed during the 7 October attack on southern Israel by Hamas militants.