According to AFP news agency, when asked at an event at the White House whether he supported an agreement regarding hostages and a ceasefire, US President Joe Biden emphasized that the hostages must be released before a ceasefire can be discussed.

Mr Biden’s comments came shortly after the Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas said it had freed two more Israeli hostages.

They were two elderly women who were released through Egypt’s active mediation efforts and who arrived at the Rafah border crossing between the Gaza Strip and Egypt.

In a tweet on X, formerly Twitter, US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan welcomed the release of two Israelis held hostage by Hamas and said: “We continue to do everything possible to secure the release of all remaining hostages in Gaza.”

Earlier on the evening of October 20, Hamas released two American hostages.

On October 23, Israel announced the number of confirmed hostages had increased to 222 people taken when Hamas gunmen crossed the border and attacked settlements, towns and military bases in southern Israel.

Israeli officials say Hamas gunmen have killed 1,400 people in the country’s worst ever attack.

Israel responded with a fierce bombing campaign that the Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza says has now killed more than 5,000 people.