Hamas today released two Russian-Israeli captives in the Gaza Strip as a gesture goodwill with Russian President Vladimir Putin, while Israel awaits the transfer of ten more Israeli hostages as part of a hostage-for-Palestinian prisoner swap deal in effect since Friday.

“In response to the efforts of Russian President Vladimir Putin, Hamas released two Russian women and handed them over to the International Committee of the Red Cross this afternoon,” the Islamist group said in a statement.

As specified, this afternoon “they will be sent to representatives of the Russian Foreign Ministry.”

Shortly thereafter, the Israeli army announced that the two Israeli hostages had been handed over to the Red Cross, which transported them to Egypt and handed them over to Israeli security forces, who transported them to Israel.

This release, the military spokesman added, is different from the 10 Israelis who will be freed this Wednesday as part of an agreement with Hamas.

Both women will be taken to hospitals where they will undergo medical examination and be reunited with their families.

The Israeli Prime Minister’s Office identified the women as Elena Trupanova, 50 years old, and Irena Teti, 73 years old.

Thanks to this release, three people with Russian citizenship have now been released, after another Russian-Israeli man, Roni Krivoy, was handed over on Sunday in a similar gesture towards Putin for “recognition of Russia’s position in support of the Palestinian cause.”

So far, 81 captives in Gaza – at least 61 Israelis and 20 foreigners – have been handed over under an agreement to exchange Israeli captives in Gaza for Palestinian prisoners, women and children on both sides.

Ten more Israelis are scheduled to be released in Gaza this afternoon and must leave Gaza in exchange for release 15 Palestinian women and 15 children from Israeli prisons. So far, 180 Palestinians have been released.

What did Putin say about Palestine?

This was stated by Russian President Vladimir Putin. the creation of a Palestinian state on the 1967 borders is a ‘key condition’ for a just and lasting solution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict in a message to the leader of the Palestinian National Authority, Mahmoud Abbas.

“Today, when the bloody conflict is causing untold suffering to the civilian population of Palestine, I consider it especially important to reaffirm Russia’s consistent position in favor of realizing the legitimate rights of its people create your own sovereign state within the 1967 borders“the head of the Kremlin emphasized.