Hamas has released two Israeli hostages, just days after releasing two Americans. This comes as Israeli airstrikes continue to bombard the Gaza Strip - and the humanitarian situation grows dire.

The hostages are Israeli women aged 85 and 79. They say they were taken from their homes with their husbands.

Hamas is believed to be still holding more than 200 people abducted during its deadly raid in Israel earlier this month. The group says Egypt helped mediate the release.

Israeli officials say their diplomatic efforts helped secure the release. Mark Regev, the senior advisor to the Israeli Prime Minister, said that the combination of Israeli military pressure and diplomatic pressure is getting people out.

US President Joe Biden has said he's committed to securing the freedom of the remaining hostages. In a phone call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Biden also said he's looking to ensure the safe passage of US citizens and other civilians.

Meanwhile, people in Gaza have been running out of food, water and medicine since the fighting started.
Aid convoys that have been allowed into the territory have reportedly not been enough.

A staff worker at NHK's office in Gaza, Mohammed Shehada, says the situation is critical. He said that there is only one pita bread for each adult and child per day. He also said drinking water is in short supply for everyone in Gaza strip.
Palestinian health authorities say some hospitals have ceased to function.

Israeli forces have not let up in their airstrikes. They say they've also launched limited ground raids to gather intelligence ahead of an expected ground offensive against Hamas. The timing of the operation is unclear.
Israel Defense Forces Spokesperson, Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, said that they will follow appropriate operational timing and political instructions.

This comes amid US media reports that the Biden administration has sent several Marine Corps officers to Israel to advise the country's military leadership.

For now, world leaders are stepping up diplomatic efforts. French President Emmanuel Macron met Netanyahu on Tuesday in Israel where he expressed support for the military operation against Hamas, and the need to ease the humanitarian situation. EU foreign ministers are also pushing for a temporary pause in the fighting to allow aid into Gaza. EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said "The only thing that we can do is to ask for a humanitarian pause and to increase the access of the humanitarian support."

The United Nations General Assembly is set to convene an emergency special session on Thursday to discuss responses to the conflict.