Image source, BBC Newsnight

Retired US General David Petraeus says this is an "existential moment" for Hamas after the militant group released two US prisoners from Gaza.

Speaking to Newsnight, Petraeus - who was in charge of the US-led coalition forces during the Iraq war - says the release of the two hostages could either be a "wonderful humanitarian gesture" or a ploy by Hamas.

He adds that we may see more hostages released one after another as Hamas tries to buy time.

They know what's coming, he says, referencing the hundreds of thousands of Israeli troops stationed around the besieged enclave, prepared and capable enough to "destroy Hamas".

The retired general also praised Qatar, who helped facilitate the hostage release. Doha, which maintains ties with both Western states and the likes of Hamas and Iran, is "very, very useful" in situations like these, he says.

Natalie Raanan's half-brother has been telling the BBC about the "overwhelming sense of joy... and gratitude" at learning that Natalie and Judith have today been released by Hamas.

Speaking to BBC Radio 4's World Tonight programme, Ben Raanan pays tribute to the "community around the world who have really put my sister at the forefront of their thoughts, of their prayers".

Natalie has a "great head on her shoulders" he adds, saying that her "street-smarts" helped the 17-year-old get through "the most horrible of ordeals".

He says the development came as a surprise. He's "not sure for certain" of the pair's condition following their release - nor when they will be able to return to Chicago - but says he has an "amazing feeling" after today's news.

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Image source, Family handout

The White House has just confirmed that US President Joe Biden has spoken with Judith and Natalie Raanan.

Mike Wendling
Reporting from Evanston, Illinois

The rabbi of freed hostage Judith Raanan says his congregants are "elated" at the news that she and her daughter Natalie have been released by Hamas.

"We have so much gratitude to the almighty God for this miracle," said Rabbi Meir Hecht of Chabad of Evanston, speaking outside his home north of Chicago.

He said his phone hasn’t stopped ringing with texts and phone calls since the news broke.

"People are really excited," he said, but he went on to note: "We still have deep pain for all those hostages that are still there."

At sundown - the start of the Jewish sabbath - the rabbi and his congregation will hold a candlelight vigil.

Image source, Government of Israel

Here's the first image we've received of Judith and Natalie Raanan, after they were freed by Hamas.

The image was shared by the government of Israel.

Frankie McCamley
BBC News

Image source, Raanan family

Judith and Natalie are part of a large extended family caught up in the attack.

They were in Israel to celebrate the 85th birthday of Judith's mother, Tamar Raanan, and Natalie’s graduation from high school.

They had planned to fly home to the US earlier, but changed their flights to stay in Israel longer. They were taken from Kibbutz Nahal Oz during the Hamas attacks on 7 October.

Tamar Raanan and her partner Yehiel survived by hiding in their safe room at home in Nahal Oz, where they were rescued by IDF forces.

Another eight family members are missing from Kibbutz Be'eri, and three were killed, including a carer.

Dr Shoshan Haran, 67, her daughter Adi Shoham, 38, Adi's partner Tal Shoham, 38, and their children, Naveh, 8, and Yahel, 3, are believed to have been kidnapped from their home.

According to Fair Planet, the non-profit that Dr Haran founded, a phone that belonged to her husband Avshalom was tracked to Gaza and they believe the whole family was taken.

Avshalom Haran - an economist and dual German-Israeli citizen - is now dead, the BBC has confirmed. He was 66.

Sharon Avigdori, 52, her daughter Noam, 12, and Lilach Kipnis, 60, are also believed to have been kidnapped.

Lilach’s husband Eviatar Kipnis, who was 66 and had Italian citizenship, was killed, the family said. Paul Vincent Castelvi, who was Eviatar Kipnis’s carer, was also killed.

We have one final detail to bring you from the US Secretary of State's update to media.

When Antony Blinken was asked about the health of the two hostages, he said a team was on the way to evaluate them.

"It's happening as we speak, to get our own team in there to see them," he said.

Blinken said information would be shared with media in the coming hours and days.

He also said there was no information on the status or condition of other American hostages still held by Hamas.

The family rabbi of Judith and Natalie Raanan has reacted to news of their release.

Speaking to the BBC, external's Newshour programme on the World Service from Evanston, outside Chicago, Rabbi Dov Klein said he was "ecstatic".

"We've known them 15 years here in Evanston... we've been praying. The fact they’ve been released is an unbelievable miracle. I’m extremely happy. Wonderful news."

But Klein said it was "a little bittersweet" that there remains some 200 hostages held captive by Hamas.

He added: "I said to my congregation, if anyone’s gonna be released first it’s gonna be Jehudit... she has so much hope. She’s filled with joy… tremendous hope."

More now from Blinken, who has spoken about Qatar's involvement in securing the release of two US hostages.

"I want to thank the government of Qatar for their very important assistance," he says, but also states that he "can't speak publicly" about the details.

"But the urgent work to free every single American to free all other hostages continues, as does our work to secure the safe passage out of Gaza," Blinken says.

He calls for the immediate release of all hostages, and also warns media that he "would not take anything that Haas says at face value".

That last statement was regarding reports that Hamas says if air strikes stopped, then hostages would be released.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is now updating media on the release of hostages Judith and Natalie Raanan.

He says the two Americans are safely in the hands of authorities in Israel. Blinken adds that US officials will meet with them as soon as possible.

Blinken also says there's still 10 additional Americans who remain unaccounted for.

"No family anywhere should have to experience this torture," he says.

Image source, Reuters

US President Joe Biden has released a statement in response to the release of Americans Judith and Natalie Raanan, saying he is "overjoyed" they "will soon be reunited with their family".

He said US citizens held hostage by Hamas since 7 October had "endured a terrible ordeal these past 14 days", adding they will have the full support of the US government as they "recover and heal".

Biden thanked both the Qatari and Israel governments for working together to secure their release, and said his government was working "around the clock" to free US citizens taken hostage by Hamas.

"As president, I have no higher priority than the safety of Americans held hostage around the world."

Image source, Raanan Family

Judith Raanan and her daughter Natalie have been released from Gaza, as confirmed by Israeli officials.

The pair had been visiting relatives at the Nahal Oz kibbutz in southern Israel, close to Gaza, when they were kidnapped by Hamas in the 7 October attacks.

A statement from the Israeli Prime Minister's office confirms that the two US hostages, mother Judith Raanan and daughter Natalie, were "released from the hands of the terrorist organization Hamas".

The statement adds that Brigadier General Gal Hirsch and other security forces "received them at the border of the Gaza Strip and at this moment they are on their way to a meeting point at a military base in the centre of the country, where their family members are waiting for them".

There are still close to 200 hostages still held by Hamas in Gaza.

Israeli officials have confirmed to the BBC that two American hostages, Judith and Natalie Raanan have been released by Hamas.

The mother and daughter were taken hostage by Hamas at Kibbutz Nahal Oz, in southern Israel, on 7 October.

A group supporting families of some of the hostages being held in Gaza has welcomed the apparent release of two hostages by Hamas.

We do not know yet if the families are reacting to the reports or have been told anything.

Describing Hamas's actions as war crimes, Hostages Families HQ called on leaders in Arab countries to use their influence on Hamas leaders to immediately release all the kidnapped and missing persons held in Gaza.

The group urged world leaders and the international community to also use their "full power" to work for the release of all the hostages and missing persons.

The Palestinian Red Crescent says that Israeli forces have issued an evacuation order to Al-Quds hospital in Gaza.

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

In a post on X, external, the humanitarian organisation called on the "international community to act urgently, averting another catastrophe like Al-Ahli Hospital" - in reference to the explosion at the Baptist hospital for which Hamas blames Israel, but Israelis presented evidence which it said showed was caused by a rocket fired from inside Gaza.

We're also hearing this from the BBC's US-partner CBS News, where a diplomat told the network's Margaret Brennan that two US hostages - described as a mother and daughter - have been released by Hamas.

Israeli officials are also expected to confirm the news, CBS reports.

We're still awaiting official confirmation on the release of these two hostages by Hamas.

Reports first surfaced about an hour ago on a Hamas Telegram channel that its military wing had released two Americans from Gaza.

Israeli media have since widely reported this development. Newspaper Haaretz said the Red Cross had confirmed the news, while other outlets, such as Kan and i24 News, cited Israeli sources.

Israeli media are reporting the release of two American citizens held hostage by Hamas in Gaza.

There's been no confirmation of this. We're waiting to hear from US and Israeli officials.

The US state department is due to hold its daily press briefing in Washington. We'll be following that live.

The UN World Food Programme (WFP) has called for "full and complete unimpeded access” to the Gaza Strip so essential humanitarian aid can reach civilians.

Cindy McCain, executive director, says the WFP has "less than a week of food left" in the densely-populated enclave with supplies continuing to be held up at the Rafah border crossing with Egypt.

"People are going to die unless we can gain access," she warns, adding that the organisation hoped tomorrow would see their trucks make the crossing.

The aid chief said WFP does “everything it can” to ensure “food goes to where it's suppose to go” rather than ending up in the hands of people they don't want it to.

Image source, Reuters