Department. Lets toss things over to jake tapper and the lead. Announcer this is cnn breaking news. Welcome to the lead, im jake tapper. We start with breaking news. Two american hostages have been released by hamas. And any moment we expect to hear from the Secretary Of StateAntony Blinken after a spokesperson for the Israeli Prime Ministers Office confirmed that Judith Rannan and her 17yearold Daughter Natalie are now back from the gaza strip. Lets listen into Secretary Of State blinken. Held by hamas were released. These two americans are now safely in the hands of israeli authorities in israel. We expect a team from the u. S. Embassy to see them very shortly. Over the coming hours, theyll receive any support and assistance that they need and of course were very anxious to reunite them with their loved ones. We welcome their release. We share in the relief that their families, friends and loved ones are feeling. But there are still ten additional americans who remain unaccounted for in this conflict. Some of them are being held hostage by hamas along with an estimated 200 other hostages held in gaza. They include men, women and young boys, Young Girls Andelerly people from many nations. Every single one of them should be released. Since the early hours of this crisis, the president has made clear that he will do Everything Possible to secure the release of every hostage. During my own recent travel to the region, i emphasized the urgency and importance of this to the United States and pressed or partners to do everything they can to help us secure the release. Since that time, we continue to work relentlessly with partners to do just that. I cant speak publicly about the details of these efforts. I know you understand that. But, the urgent work, to free every single american, to free all other hostages, continues. As does our work to secure the Safe Passage Out Of Gaza for The Americans who are trapped there. In this particular instance, i want to thank the government of qatar for their very important assistance. When i was in israel last last week, i met with the families of u. S. Citizens that hamas has taken hostage. President biden, too, had the opportunity to hear directly from the families. It is impossible to adequately put into words the agony theyre feeling of not knowing the fate of their loved ones. Worrying relentlessly about them, for their safety and their security and well being. No family, anywhere, should have to experience this torture. What i shared with the families, as the president does as well, that the entire United States government will work every minute of every day to secure their release, to bring their loved ones home. They have my solemn pledge, those who continue to have loved ones held hostage by hamas, that well continue to do that. Working as though these Family Members were our own. With that, ill take a few questions. Mr. Secretary thank you for coming down. Im just you said you couldnt talk about specific details but im wondering, you did thank the government of qatar, and im wondering, since you were there, and they have an office, they host a hamas office, if you could elaborate a little bit on what their role was and if you continue to think that that channel there, them having an office there, is worthwhile . And then secondly, a lot has been made by you, by the president , by other officials about how it is important for israel once, if and when it begins a Ground Incursion into gaza. For it to respect the rules of war and international and i am curious if you think that to date, even before that Ground Incursion that started, if israel is respecting those rules and laws. Thank you. Matt, thank you for the questions. Youll understand that because this is an ongoing effort, an ongoing effort to get hostages americans who are hostages in this moment in gaza out to secure their release to get them back with their families, i cant go into any details about what were doing, how were doing it and all i could say with regard to qatar, is in this instance, we very much appreciate their assistance. Beyond that, i really cant i really cant say because, again, we want to focus on making sure that were getting those who remain hostages back home and with their loved ones. That is the single most important thing. With regard to how israel is conducting its operations. I think you heard the president speak to this very clearly and youve heard me speak to this very clearly, weve said we believe strongly that israel has not only the right but the obligation to defend itself against what it is very hard to put into words, the nature and the bar barrett of the attacks and they have the on ligity to defend against it and make sure this doesnt happen again. But weve been break through, that the way israel does it matters and that operations be conducted in accordance with humanitarian law and the law of war as applicable. And that everything be done to minimize the lost of civilian life. And we continue to focus on that. Just as were also focusing on getting assistance into people in gaza who need it. There will be plenty time to make assessments about how these operations were counducted. But for on the part of the United States, this is important to us. And again, it is what distinguishes us and israel from Terrorist Groups like hamas, which not only have absolutely no concern for innocent human life, they intentionally use innocent human lives to hide behind. To use as quite lit literally as human shields. Knowing that civilians are going to suffer in conflict. Would you say, just following up on that, hamas has issued a statement through rabbi and i know with the huge caveat that it is a terror group and one does not attach credibility to that. But theyve said that all of the hostages, the civilian hostages, which includes The Americans, could be released. That this could be the start of something bigger. If there are no air strikes. Would this be a moment where, if under israels discretion, obviously, it would be wise to pause, to give it more time, to see if this is a moment that the Ground Invasion is not started, should even the air strikes be stopped to see if you could get more people out . And it was notable without going into details, that in the president s statement he said he expected he compressed his thanks to israel, to qatar in partnership with israel. A notable connection there. The obviousen inference that t were working together on this. Does this give you hope, that despite everything that has happened, that there could still be a broader relationship and avoid a wider war . Thanks, andrea. So, two things there. First, it is very simple. Hostages should be released immediately and unconditionally. That is been our position from day one. It remains our position. And to your point, i would not take anything that hamas said at face value. Im not sure anyone in this room would take It Face Value or report something that isis had said. Same applies to hamas. Our position is clear. Every hostage needs to be released and needs to be released now. Um, there is no doubt from my own travels in the region that one of the important things throughout this very difficult period, and since the attack the unconscionable attack about hamas is to continue to find ways for countries to cooperate, coordinate when it is in their interest to do so. And well continue to look to that and any cooperation that we could illicit, that facilitates the release of hostages and any cooperation that secures the provision of the humanitarian assistance to the men, women and children in gaza who are so desperately needing it. We work on that every day. And i think we could say that weve seen some of that cooperation. The broader question, though, i think is usually important. Because what is abundantly clear is the vast majority of countries, the vast majority of people, want the same thing. They want a region why countries are working together, where relations are normalized, where there is greater integration, where people are working together, studying together, and traveling and doing business. Overwhelming majority of people want that. And we want to see as well the rights and aspirations of the people fulfilled in the context of that kind of region. And that is one vision and it remains very much alive in every conversation that i had. T The Alternative is clear. It is hamas, its hezbollah, its iran. It is destruction, it is death, it is terrorism, it is darkness. So, the more were able to make real that first vision, the more im convinced that that is the vision that everyone or virtually everyone will subscribe to. So even as we are working through this challenge, this crisis, it is important to keep that vision alive. Because it is important that people know that there is an alternative. And that everything that they hope for and that they aspire to is going to be best addressed through what ive just described, that first vision. Well continue to do that. Jennifer . Yes, mr. Secretary. What could you tell us about the condition of these two americans who have been released . What is their Health Status and do you have any details on the condition of The Americans who are being held hostage . Have you seen any proof of life on them . And then on the Rafah Crossing. What is the hold up in operationalizing this deal and will we see it open this weekend . I cant speak to the condition of the two hostages who were just released. First out of respect for their privacy, second because we havent had a chance yet, maybe it is happening as we speak to get our own team in there to see them, to evaluate them and most importantly to reunite them with their loved ones. So, im sure that will come out in the hours and days ahead. I dont have anything for you now. Nor do i have anything for you on the status of or condition of americans that continue to be held by hamas. With regard to the Rafah Crossing, as you know, when some of us were traveling together, in the region over the past week, getting Assistance Moving was among my top priorities. And we worked very hard with the government of israel, the government of egypt, to do just that. And we secured an understanding that we would develop a plan to move assistance. That understanding was cemented by President Biden when he was in israel and also speaking to president el sisi of egypt. In the time since weve been working with David Saterfield on the ground, working with the United Nations, with egypt and israel to put that into motion. And my expectation is that youll see that moving soon. Thank you. Thanks, everyone. All right. So that was Secretary Of StateAntony Blinken. Talking about the hostages, two hostages released by the Terrorist Group Hamas in a deal that was arranged by the government of qatar working with the government of israel. Israel said that these two american hostages, Judith Rannan and her 17yearold daughter, natalie, are back from gaza, in israel, heading to be reunited with her family. The family lives near chicago. They were visiting relatives in israel when they were kidnapped during the hamas Terrorist Attacks on october 7th. Lets bring in Orren Lieberman at the pentagon. What does hamas have to gain by releasing these hostages . They didnt do it out of the goodness of their hearts. No, but they do have a few different bits to gain here. Potentially quite a bit. First of all, it looks good for them to release hostages. Given the International Pressure and that is not just the u. S. And israel, is that qatar has cut for the release of women and children and other countries. So for that perspective, it is good for hamas. But it is not just that perspective. If there are other hostages alive, that gives hamas leverage in this case. Whether that is leverage to try to get some sort of ceasefire here or get humanitarian aid, it is the belief that they could get something out of that. As you pointed out, theyre not Holding People or releasing these two out of the goodness of their hearts. It is because they stand to gain something. And it is because they believe there is value in keeping these hostages. Keeping them alive. The u. S. Believes theyre held in different locations which makes it hard so pinpoint exactly where they are. But there is another point to be made here. As we look back at the relationship between israel and hamas, that has largely been managed through qatar over the course of the past several years and that is hamas in the past, when theyve launched rockets or held fence protests, or even launched flaming balloons, they have seen israel and specifically the government of Benjamin Netanyahu make concessions in the form of tens of millions of dollars of money from Qatar Flowing Into Gaza or israel expanding the fishing zone off the coast of gaza or expanding number of permits. So at least before the previous two weeks, there was a precedent for israel and Netanyahu Making Con Sections for violence. This is a entirely different scenario. But if they believe that precedent is still in place, perhaps they believe they could get concessions out of holding the hostages, whether that is concessions on the israeli side or somewhere else. So clearly, jake, they believe there is value in keeping these hostages and perhaps releasing proofs of live at certain s and depending on the success of qatar in this situation. Releasing more hostages in the future as it is to their need and as they think they could benefit. Thank you so much. I want to now go to the rabbi for the rannan family. Rabbi hecht. Thank you so much for joining us. You must be pretty happy, i imagine, the worst fears imaginable have been going through your head since october 7th. How did you find out and what are you hearing from the family . Jake, thank you so much for having me. The news that we received that judith and Natalie Rannan have been released is overwhelming. We are, of course, tremendously grateful to the almighty god. So much gratitude for this incredible beyond belief miracle. At the same time, you could understand that there is so much pain and deep concern for the over 200 hostages that still remain in gaza in the hands of terrorists, hamas have just done the most vicious and evil crimes against humanity, two weeks ago. So the fact that they released two hostages, to us that is incredible and it is a member of our community. Someone who we see every week in our congregation and close to us like family and were elated, still continuing to pray and when we are still continuing to ask everyone to do all you can. Prayer helps. We got Judith And Natalie out, but continue the prayers for the over 200 hostages that still remain in the hands of hamas, vicious terrorists and for the the entire nation of israel who is still mourning over 1400 who were visually murdered, babies and men and women and children, and we are hoping and praying that we will all be able to celebrate the end of this evil very, very soon. Rabbi, what could you tell us about Judith And Natalie . Obviously, without violating their privacy, what could you tell us about them as people . Judith and natalie are such kind, sweet, giving sharing, generous souls. Judith is the type of person who could woman over to our home, to our congregation all of the time with gifts for the for the children. Wanting to be there to spend this spiritual moment of prayer with everyone together. Always wanting to join a class or any kind of gathering. A person who loves life, who loves humanity, and being together with other people. And like mom, like daughter, natalie has been described by all of her friends as such a kind and sweet and generous girl. And we are so, so grateful to almighty god for this miracle. We are so glad to get this news. And again, we still need to pray and were still paying a deep concern for the rest of the hostages. Here is the tough questionch im a journalist so how do you explain this . You talk about praying to god, somebody comes to you and said if there is a god, how do you explain october 7th . If there is a god, how do you explain hamas . How do you explain people that would do this . How do you explain the actions that took place . Jake, people have choices and people have the ability to perform evil. We are living in a world where there is good and evil. That is the world that we live in. That is the world that god placed us in. It is or job to in the face of evil, this is a good versus evil and this is versus evil and darkness and this is our job to shine that light. So it is the jewish sabbath, before the sabbath and before sundown light the Shabbat Candles and every human being should be out there standing up for civilization and for the light of goodness in this world. Make a prayer, do a good and kind deed for your fellow, it will make a difference. It made a difference for Judith And Natalie and will make a difference for the rest of the hostages, the rest of the israel and all those who are suffering. Rabbi hecht, thank you so much. Im glad you got some good news today because god knows we could all use some good news in these dark times. Have a good sabbath. Thank you, jake. Dan o shea is with me now. We dont know how this all happened. But what does the release of these two