Hamas has released two American hostages who were abducted during the deadly raid on Israel earlier this month. Israel confirmed that the mother and daughter, Judith and Natalie Raanan, were handed over by Hamas at the Gaza boundary.
The release of the hostages came after the gunmen raided Israel on October 7, a raid that resulted in the tragic loss of 1,400 lives and the capture of around 200 hostages. Palestinian officials reported over 4,000 casualties in Gaza due to Israeli bombardments.
US President Joe Biden expressed his joy at the release and confirmed that he had spoken with the Raanans over the phone.
Brig Gen Gal Hirsch, along with members of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), received the two hostages from Hamas at the Gaza boundary, as per the Israeli prime minister’s office. Subsequently, the Raanans were transported to a military base in central Israel, where their waiting family members welcomed them.
The mother and daughter, who were residents of Evanston, Illinois, were seized during the Hamas incursion while celebrating Natalie’s high school graduation and her grandmother Tamar Ranaan’s 85th birthday.
Natalie’s half-brother, Ben Raanan, expressed his gratitude for the global support and prayers they received, while Natalie’s uncle, Avi Zamir, conveyed the family’s extreme joy at their release.
The Jewish community in Evanston, Illinois, also rejoiced at the news, with Rabbi Meir Hecht describing the release as a miracle. However, their thoughts and prayers remained with the remaining hostages.
Hamas spokesperson Abu Ubaida cited “humanitarian reasons” for the release, aiming to refute claims made by the American government.
Notably, US officials had been diligently working to secure the release of American citizens taken hostage by Hamas during the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict.
Illinois Governor JB Pritzker praised the strength and bravery of the hostages and eagerly awaited their return.
As of now, 32 American citizens have been confirmed dead during this month’s Israel-Hamas conflict, with 10 remaining unaccounted for.
Both the US and UK have been collaborating with Qatari officials to facilitate the release of their respective citizens, with Qatar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs emphasizing its efforts to secure the release of hostages from various nationalities held in Gaza.
Other countries with nationals among the hostages held in Gaza include Argentina, Germany, France, Thailand, and Portugal.
