In a press release issued here, UN Secretary-General António Guterres welcomed the support from the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, in securing the release of the two hostages, Judith Raanan, 59, and her daughter, Natalie Raanan, 17.

The text repeated the call for the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages, and demanded ongoing and unimpeded humanitarian access to Gaza.

It also acknowledged the need to respect international humanitarian law and protect civilians and a concerted effort by the international community to prevent a broad regional spread of the conflict.

The two women were released on Friday, according to Israeli officials.

They are the first people released since Hamas took nearly 200 hostages on Israeli territory on October 7, in what the Palestinian Foreign Ministry described as a result of 75 years of suffering and displacement of its people under the silent gaze of the international community.

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