In a significant development in the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict, officials have announced the release of two U.S. hostages, a mother and daughter, who were held captive by Hamas. The hostages, Judith Tai Raanan and Natalie Shoshana Raanan, were released for "humanitarian reasons," according to a spokesperson for the Israeli prime minister's office.

The hostages, who were visiting family in Israel near the Gaza border, were caught in the crossfire when Hamas carried out a brutal terror attack in southern Israel nearly two weeks ago. The attack, which marked the beginning of the war, inflicted significant damage and posed a threat to civilians in the region.

Natalie Raanan, who recently graduated from Deerfield High School in north suburban Chicago, had reached out to her family during the early stages of the bombing, assuring them of their safety. She informed them that her mother's room had been hit but they were relocating to another guest house with a shelter.

Israel's military has accused Hamas of taking over 200 people as hostages, highlighting the dire situation in the region. The release of the U.S. hostages raises hopes for the safe return of others who are still held captive.

Amidst the ongoing conflict, Israel continued its airstrikes on Gaza, but unexpectedly paused the attacks in the early afternoon, causing confusion among Palestinians and speculation about a possible cease-fire. CBS News reported from inside Gaza that the temporary halt in airstrikes caught some residents off guard.

In light of the intensifying situation in the Israel-Hamas conflict, CBS News will be broadcasting a special one-hour program titled "Israel-Hamas War: The World on Edge," on Friday, October 20 at 10 p.m. ET. The program will provide comprehensive coverage of the current events and can be watched on CBS or through the CBS News app on mobile devices or connected TVs.

As the conflict progresses into its third week, the release of the U.S. hostages offers a glimmer of hope amidst the chaos and serves as a reminder of the urgent need for a resolution to the escalating violence in the region.