Israel-Gaza updates: Biden speaks with Netanyahu about hostages' release, Gaza humanitarian assistance
The hostages are two elderly women who are both Israeli nationals.
Thousands of people have died and thousands more were injured after the militant group Hamas launched an unprecedented surprise attack on Israel on Oct. 7 and Israel retaliated with a bombing campaign and total siege of the neighboring Gaza Strip, leaving the region on the verge of all-out war.
At least 1,400 people have died and 4,629 others have been injured in Israel, according to Israeli authorities. In Gaza, 5,087 people have died and 15,273 have been wounded, according to the Palestinian Health Authority.
Aid workers and officials fear that Israel's call for an evacuation of the northern part of Gaza is precipitating a humanitarian disaster as electricity and other supplies have been cut off in preparation for what appears to be an imminent ground offensive.
Humanitarian groups have urged Israel to call off the evacuation and agree to a cease-fire, even as the country has asserted a right to defend itself -- a right the United States endorses.
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Rafah border crossing between Egypt, Gaza to open Saturday
The U.S. Embassy in Israel said it has received information that the Rafah border crossing between Egypt and the besieged Gaza Strip will open on Saturday at 10 a.m. local time.
"If the border is opened, we do not know how long it will remain open for foreign citizens to depart Gaza," the embassy said in a statement. "We anticipate that many people would attempt to cross should the border open, and U.S. citizens attempting to enter Egypt should expect a potentially chaotic and disorderly environment on both sides of the crossing."
"The situation remains dynamic and fluid and the security environment is unpredictable," the embassy added. "You should assess your personal safety and security before choosing to move toward the border or trying to cross."
A source involved in the discussions about opening the border told ABC News on Saturday morning that the opening of the border crossing was delayed due to "security concerns." More than 100 trucks carrying humanitarian aid have been parked in a long queue on the Egyptian side of the Rafah border crossing, waiting to enter Gaza. When it does open, the plan is to allow entry for an initial 20 trucks led by the Egyptian Red Crescent before scaling that number up over the coming days, according to the source.
-ABC News' Ayat Al-Tawy, Matt Rivers and Morgan Winsor
Father of freed American hostage gives update: 'She looks very good'
Uri Raanan, the father of Natalie Raanan, 17, who was released by Hamas along with her mother, Judith Raanan, spoke to the media Friday evening, giving an update on their conditions.
"I spoke with my daughter earlier today, she sounds very good, she looks very good, she was very happy and she’s waiting to come home. Her mother has a little scratch on her hand but she told me it’s nothing, she’s okay," Uri Raanan said.
"Hopefully I’m going to see them next week, next week is Natalie’s birthday," Uri Raanan added.
Former congressman says relatives were killed in explosion on Gaza church
Former Rep. Justin Amash of Michigan said Friday several of his relatives were killed in the blast at a Greek Orthodox church in Gaza.
Amash, the son of a Palestinian Christian immigrant, shared a photo on X, formerly known as Twitter, of two of the relatives who were killed in the blast at the Church of Saint Porphyrios in Gaza.
The church was being used as a shelter for Palestinians.
"The Palestinian Christian community has endured so much. Our family is hurting badly," Amash said in his post.
-ABC News Ben Siegel
More Americans being held hostage, Blinken says
Although two American hostages were released by Hamas on Friday, 10 Americans remain unaccounted for, and some of them are among the estimated 200 people being held by Hamas, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said.
"When I was in Israel last week, I met the families of U.S. citizens that Hamas has taken hostage," Blinken said. "It's impossible to adequately put into words the agony they're feeling."
"What I shared with the families, as the president did as well, is that the entire United States government will work every minute of every day to secure their release, to bring their loved ones home," he said.
US to impose new sanctions on Hamas leaders: Official
The U.S. is planning is impose new sanctions on several Hamas leaders this week, according to a U.S. official.
The Treasury Department is planning to announce the sanctions this week, the official said.
Earlier Tuesday, a top Treasury official pledged that the agency would "bring our tools to bear against Hamas' financing and the overall funding of terrorism."
"Disrupting Hamas' financing operations is not new to us; this has been a priority for Treasury for decades," Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence Brian Nelson said at a news conference. "We are equipped to target this infrastructure and its supporters, whether they be political leadership, operatives, facilitators, financiers, investors, or entire global procurement networks."
Axios first reported this development Tuesday night.
-ABC News' Ben Gittleson and Elizabeth Schulze