Friday saw a wave of protests in Arab countries and beyond, calling for an end to Israel's bombardment of Gaza.

Pro-Palestinian rallies were also held in Indonesia, Malaysia and India.

More than 4,000 people have been killed in Gaza since Hamas's attack on 7 October, according to officials at the Hamas-run health ministry.

Image source, Reuters

Image source, Reuters

Image source, Reuters

Image source, EPA

At least 22 journalists have been killed since fighting between Israel and Hamas broke out on 7 October, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists.

These include 18 Palestinians, three Israelis and one Lebanese, the committee says in a statement, external.

The CPJ attributes 15 of these deaths to Israeli airstrikes and two to Hamas attacks in southern Israel. Eight journalists have been reported injured and three are either missing or have been detained, it adds.

"CPJ emphasises that journalists are civilians doing important work during times of crisis and must not be targeted by warring parties," a spokesperson says.

Image source, Reuters

Joel Gunter
Reporting from the West Bank

Image source, Reuters

According to the UN's humanitarian office, the week that followed Hamas's attack was the deadliest for Palestinians in the West Bank since it began reporting fatalities in 2005. (The Israeli-occupied West Bank is separate from the Gaza Strip - where much of our recent coverage has been focused.)

The UN says at least 75 Palestinians were killed in the West Bank by the Israeli military or settlers during that period and incidents of settler violence went up from an average of three a day to eight.

In one raid on a Palestinian refugee camp, and a rare air strike in the region, on Thursday 12th, Israeli forces killed at least 12 people, Palestinian officials said, and Israeli police said one officer was killed.

There was "a real risk" of the occupied territory "spiralling out of control", the UN said this week.

Palestinian residents of the West Bank say that while the world's attention is drawn to the unfolding disaster in Gaza, Israeli settlers are taking advantage by entering villages and expelling, and even killing, Palestinian civilians.

There had already been a significant increase in violence by Israeli settlers this year, even before the Hamas attack, according to UN data, with more than 100 incidents reported each month and about 400 people driven from their land between January and August.

• Read more here

Image source, Reuters

Although we've been focusing for the last several hours on the release of a pair of American hostages, we're endeavouring to bring you other key lines from the wider conflict, too.

The director of the World Health Organization (WHO) has commented on reports that the Israeli military has ordered people to evacuate the Al-Quds hospital in Gaza ahead of a potential strike - as alleged by the Palestinian Red Crescent earlier.

The hospital is currently home to more than 400 patients and 12,000 displaced civilians, according to the Red Crescent.

WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has posted, external on X, formerly Twitter:

The Israeli military says it's attacked "a series of military targets" of the Lebanese Hezbollah group in the last few hours, in response to the "firing of anti-tank missiles and launches into Israeli territory last night".

The targets struck include military compounds and operational infrastructure used by the group, as well as an anti-tank launcher located at the border and aimed at Israel, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) says in an update, external on X, known previously as Twitter.

Hezbollah is Lebanon's most powerful military force and has long-range rockets at its disposal that could strike deep into Israeli territory. It fought a month-long war with Israel in 2006.

Since the Hamas attack on Israel two weeks ago, there has been a steady increase in tensions between the Israeli military and Hezbollah fighters.

The group, like Hamas, is considered a terrorist organisation by the UK, the US and other Western powers.

Mark Regev, senior adviser to the Israeli prime minister, tells BBC World Service's Newshour programme that Natalie and Judith Raanan were released "unconditionally" - and that it's a "day of celebration".

He says the "pressure" put on Hamas prompted the group to free the mother and daughter.

"I think Hamas understands it's under amazing pressure - both diplomatic and of course Israeli military might - and I think that's forcing Hamas to try to do things including release hostages," he said.

"I believe if we keep the pressure up, Hamas will release more (hostages)... We are determined to continue to keep the pressure up. We're hitting Hamas and hitting Hamas hard."

For its part, Hamas said it released the American pair for "humanitarian reasons".

UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak earlier welcomed the release of Judith and Natalie Raanan from Gaza - and thanked Qatar for its "leadership on this issue".

Sunak says he discussed efforts to free hostages with the Gulf state's emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani.

"We will continue to work tirelessly with Qatar, Israel and others to ensure all hostages come home safely," the prime minister added in a post on X, external.

Earlier on Friday, Sunak met the Palestinian Authority president in Egypt as part of a tour of the Middle East. The pair jointly condemned Hamas's attacks on Israel - and Sunak expressed his condolences for civilian deaths in Gaza.

Image source, EPA

Natalie Raanan's father has shared his joy and relief following her release by Hamas.

Uri Raanan told the AP news agency that he spoke to Natalie on Friday and "she's doing very good".

"I'm in tears, and I feel very, very good," Uri added.

And in an interview with the Boston Herald, Uri said Friday was the "best day" he'd ever had - following the "worst two weeks" of his life.

He said his 17-year-old daughter "didn't say much" on the phone but she would be home in Chicago within a week.

The US embassy in Jerusalem has released a picture Natalie and Judith Raanan - the two freed American hostages - speaking to US President Joe Biden over the phone.

Image source, US Embassy Jerusalem

"(President Biden) spoke this evening with the two American citizens who had been held hostage by Hamas," the embassy writes on X, external.

"We are so grateful that they are safe. We will continue to do everything we can to unite all hostages with their loved ones."

In a statement issued earlier by the White House, Biden said he was "overjoyed" that the pair would soon be reunited with their family.

As we've been reporting, two US hostages held by Hamas in Gaza have been released.

Judith Raanan and her daughter Natalie had been abducted during Hamas's deadly raid on Israel.

In the video shared by the al-Qassam Brigades - Hamas's military wing - workers wearing International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) uniforms are seen helping the freed hostages.

Residents of a neighbourhood in central Gaza say it was completely destroyed by Israeli airstrikes overnight from Thursday to Friday - leaving thousands of people homeless.

BBC Arabic's Adnan El-Bursh met people who lived there. While he was in the neighbourhood, a warning came from the Israeli army telling people to evacuate.

US President Joe Biden has suggested that Hamas's attack on southern Israel on 7 October - which killed 1,400 people - was aimed at disrupting stronger ties between Israel and Saudi Arabia.

"One of the reasons Hamas moved on Israel.... they knew that I was about to sit down with the Saudis," Biden is quoted as saying by the Reuters news agency.

Relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia have historically been fraught, but the Middle Eastern country had given its blessing to neighbouring nations the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain to grow closer ties with Israel in 2020.

Saudi Arabia's Prince Turki al-Faisal, a widely-respected elder statesman in Saudi circles, has publicly condemned both Hamas and Israel for attacking civilians, following Hamas's 7 October attack and the subsequent Israeli bombardment of Gaza. There were no heroes, he said, only victims.

The BBC's security correspondent Frank Gardner has looked at Saudi Arabia's response to the latest escalation in the conflict. You can read his analysis here.

Image source, Government of Israel

If you're just joining us, or have missed some of the latest developments, here's a round-up:

• Two US hostages, who were among the 200 people being held by Hamas, were released on Friday following a deal brokered by Qatar
• Judith Raanan and her 17-year-old daughter Natalie had been visiting relatives in southern Israel, close to Gaza, when Hamas launched its attack on 7 October
• Natalie's half-brother told the BBC of his "overwhelming sense of joy", while their rabbi described the pair as "lovers of life and humanity"
• US President Joe Biden said he was "overjoyed" by the news, adding that Natalie and Judith would "soon be reunited with their family"

• The Palestinian Red Crescent said Israel has issued an evacuation order for the Al-Quds hospital in Gaza ahead of a potential strike, which is currently housing more than 400 patients and 12,000 displaced civilians
• Israeli defence minister Yoav Gallant has suggested that the long-term aim of the military campaign in Gaza is to sever all links with the territory and end Israel's "responsibility for life in the Gaza Strip"

• Humanitarian aid trucks have not been allowed to enter Gaza via the Rafah crossing - Gaza's border with Egypt - and UN chief Antonio Guterres said the safe passage of trucks into Gaza was the "difference between life and death"

• A senior Israeli official told the BBC there was “a good chance" aid trucks would enter Gaza on Saturday, but there were "ongoing issues which are being solved"

Mike Wendling
Reporting from Evanston, Illinois

I'm still at the vigil, where I just spoke with Daniela Magnifico and Pinchas Badra.

The couple are friends of freed hostage Judith Raanan. They met at religious services several years ago. Daniela and Judith worked on art projects together and spent time at each other's homes.

Mike Wendling
Reporting from Evanston, Illionis

At the vigil for Judith and Natalie Raanan, I spoke with Yehudis Hecht - wife of the rabbi and a good friend of Judith.

"It’s been an overwhelming day of so much gratitude and joy,” she says.

“We love Judith and our hearts were broken, our lives were turned into a nightmare.

"We are praying that they have quick healing from all that they have endured, and we are praying for all Israel and a safe return of all hostages."

Mike Wendling
Reporting from Evanston, Illinois

I'm at a vigil being held at the suburb in Chicago where the recently freed hostages Judith and Natalie Raanan live.

About 20 people have gathered at Rabbi Meir Hecht's home, where some congregants have lit candles and prayed together. There's also a large group of journalists here.

The mood is one of relief, but the rabbi reminded the small crowd that there are about 200 people still being held hostage.

Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu has posted a statement, external following the hostages' release on his official X account. He writes:

The rabbi of Judith and Natalie Raanan, the two freed American hostages, has been speaking to the BBC.

Rabbi Meir Hecht says the 59-year-old Illinois mother has been a part of their congregation in "such an important way".

He says the pair are "really special people", adding that both "have a love for every human being".

Paul Adams
Diplomatic correspondent, reporting from Jerusalem

After two of the bleakest weeks, full of horror and uncertainty, this was a moment of relief – and joy.

But the photo released after Judith and Natalie Raanan finally made it to safety showed the two women looking exhausted and pale. A glimpse of the toll this appalling ordeal must have taken.

How were they released? The Gulf state of Qatar said it came about after what it called many days of continuous communication. The foreign ministry in Doha said it hoped dialogue would lead to the release of other hostages.

A clearly-delighted Joe Biden thanked Qatar and Israel for what he called "their partnership in this work".

Mark Regev, a senior advisor to Israel’s prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, acknowledged that diplomacy had played a role - but said the hostages' release was also the result of Israel's military might.

The hope now is that other hostages, especially the elderly and the very young, will soon be released. But Israel's assault on the Gaza Strip has not stopped.

The fate of the remaining 201 hostages remains in the balance.

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) says it's "extremely relieved" after helping facilitate the transfer of the US hostages from Gaza to Israel, "underscoring the real-life impact of our role as a neutral actor between the warring parties".

In a statement, the ICRC calls for the release of the rest of the hostages held by Hamas - and says these people must be allowed to receive medical care while being held.

The group also calls for humanitarian assistance for Palestinians in Gaza, saying they "cannot be kept waiting for desperately needed aid" with hospitals on the verge of collapse and supplies of food and water critically low.

"Every hour that passes without increased assistance means more misery and suffering."