Hamas has released two American hostages, mother and daughter Judith and Natalie Raanan, who were abducted during the group’s raid on Israel earlier this month. The hostages were handed over to Israel at the Gaza boundary and were freed for “humanitarian reasons,” according to Hamas. US President Joe Biden expressed his joy at their release and confirmed that he had spoken with the Raanans. The release of these captives marks the first of its kind since the gunmen raided Israel on October 7th and took around 200 hostages.
After being received by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), the Raanans were taken to a military base in central Israel where their family members were waiting. Both Judith, 59, and Natalie, 17, are residents of Evanston, Illinois. The family expressed gratitude towards the global community for their support during this difficult time. The Jewish community in Evanston was elated, and the local rabbi described the release as a miracle, although they still mourned for the remaining hostages. President Biden thanked the Qatari government for their mediation efforts in securing the release of the two women, emphasizing that the US had been working tirelessly to free American citizens held by Hamas.
In addition to the release of the Raanans, there are still many American citizens unaccounted for, with at least 32 confirmed dead as a result of the Israel-Hamas conflict. The US and UK governments, along with Qatari officials, are actively working to secure the release of their respective citizens. Other countries, such as Argentina, Germany, France, Thailand, and Portugal, also have nationals being held captive in Gaza. The Raanans’ extended family was also affected by the raid, with eight members missing from Kibbutz Be’eri and three killed, including a carer. The identities of other kidnapped relatives have been verified, and international efforts continue to secure their release and bring an end to this tragic situation.
