October 21, 2023 4:39 p.m
Judith Raanan, 59, and her daughter Natalie, 17, were released after two weeks. They live in Evanston, Illinois. The terrorist organization: ongoing contacts with Egypt and Qatar to release more civilian hostages
The father: “They are fine”
Judith and Natalie, mother and daughter with U.S. citizenship, live in the Evanston, Chicago, Illinois area. Uri Raanan, Judith’s father and Natalie’s grandfather, said he had spoken to his daughter. “He will be home soon. He’s fine. He’s doing very well,” said 71-year-old Uri, who also lives in Chicago. The 17-year-old’s brother said: “When I see her again I think there will be no words left to express what is happening. There will be an intense embrace that is bigger than words.”
Why were they released?
Hamas said it released the hostages on humanitarian grounds after reaching an agreement with the Qatari government. In order to secure the release of two American hostages, French President Emmanuel Macron emphasized: “Qatar played a decisive role. I would like to recognize their commitment.” It remains to be seen how the next phase of the war will develop after the release of the first hostages and the opening of the Rafah border crossing in Egypt the arrival of first aid in the Gaza Strip.
Hamas: Contacts are underway to release more civilian hostages
“There are ongoing contacts” between Hamas and Arab mediators “Egypt and Qatar” with a view to the release of additional civilian hostages captured by the Palestinian Islamic Movement on October 7. Osama Hamdan, Hamas representative in Beirut, said this on the sidelines of a press conference.
Why were they in Israel, near the border with Gaza?
The mother and daughter taken hostage by Hamas were in Israel to visit some relatives, celebrate the 85th birthday of a family member and celebrate Simchat Torah (Joy of Torah) at Kibbutz Nahal Oz, which is something more than one kilometer from the border with Gaza. which was attacked by Hamas militants.
Biden’s call
US President Joe Biden spoke by telephone with Judith Tai Raanan and Natalie Raanan. He reported that they “will have the full support of the government as they recover from this terrible ordeal.” The White House said the President of the United States also spoke with their families.
Israel, Palestine and the role of Qatar
“From the first moments of this attack,” said US President Joe Biden, “we have worked around the clock to free American citizens taken hostage by Hamas, and we have not given up our efforts to do so to achieve the release of those still imprisoned. I thank the Government of Qatar and the Government of Israel for their cooperation in this work. Jill and I hold all the families of missing Americans in our hearts. And as I told these families when I spoke to them last week, we will not rest until we have their loved ones home. As President, my priority is no higher than the safety of Americans held hostage around the world.”
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