Hamas releases 2 hostages, American mother and daughter Judith and Natalie Raanan, as war with Israel nears 3rd week
Two U.S. hostages, a mother and a daughter from suburban Chicago, have been launched by the Hamas militant group on Friday, officers introduced. The freed hostages have been recognized as Judith and Natalie Raanan, who’re twin U.S.-Israeli residents, in response to a spokesperson for the Israeli prime minister’s workplace.
The Raanans have been taken from Gaza by the International Committee of the Red Cross, the group mentioned in a press release, and Israel’s army and safety forces met the pair on the nation’s border with the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip, the spokesperson for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s workplace mentioned.
They have been being taken to a army base to be reunited with relations. Late Friday night time in Israel, a photograph of the Raanans was launched by Netanyahu’s workplace.
Government of Israel
“We’re extremely, extremely joyful, happy,” Avi Zamir, Natalie’s uncle, informed CBS News.
Zamir thanked President Biden and the State Department for his or her efforts to achieve the hostages’ launch, and mentioned, “In a moment of joy for us as a family we are still remembering and acknowledging that there are still over 200 hostages and there are still families whose loved ones are still being held hostage and we will continue the struggle and effort to bring them back home safely, each and every single one of them.”
President Biden spoke by cellphone with the 2 former hostages Friday afternoon.
“I let them know that their government will fully support them as they recover and heal,” Mr. Biden mentioned in a tweet, sharing a photograph of their name. “Jill and I will continue holding close in our hearts all the families of unaccounted for Americans.”
I simply spoke with the 2 Americans launched right this moment after being held hostage by Hamas. I allow them to know that their authorities will absolutely assist them as they get well and heal.
Jill and I’ll proceed holding shut in our hearts all of the households of unaccounted for Americans. pic.twitter.com/oXk6gfrD8M— President Biden (@POTUS) October 20, 2023
Earlier within the day, the president spoke with a few of their relations, the White House mentioned.
“Our fellow citizens have endured a terrible ordeal these past 14 days, and I am overjoyed that they will soon be reunited with their family, who has been wracked with fear,” Mr. Biden mentioned in a press release.
As he boarded Air Force One Friday night at Joint Base Andrews, Mr. Biden responded “yes” when asked by a reporter whether or not he wished Israel to delay a floor invasion of Gaza till extra hostages have been freed.
How many U.S. hostages does Hamas have?
In Washington, Secretary of State Antony Blinken mentioned 10 further Americans stay unaccounted for after Hamas carried out a brutal terror assault in southern Israel on Oct. 7, igniting a war.
“We know that some of them are being held hostage by Hamas along with an estimated 200 other hostages held in Gaza,” Blinken informed reporters. “They include men, women, young boys, young girls, elderly people, from many nations. Every single one of them should be released.”
Why did Hamas launch Judith and Natalie Raanan?
A message posted to a Hamas-affiliated Telegram channel mentioned the discharge was made for “humanitarian reasons.”
Asked a few Hamas declare that each one the civilian hostages may very well be launched if Israel’s airstrikes cease, Blinken mentioned the hostages ought to be launched unconditionally.
“I would not take anything that Hamas says at face value,” Blinken mentioned. “I’m not sure anyone in this room would take at 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.”
According to CBS News Chicago, the Raanans have been visiting household in Israel, close to the Gaza border, in a group known as Nahal Oz, a kibbutz that was attacked by Hamas. Natalie Raanan simply graduated from Deerfield High School in north suburban Chicago.
Her uncle, Avi Zamir, informed CBS News Chicago she had texted the household shortly after the bombing started on Oct. 7, saying, “We’re all fine, yes indeed. Mommy’s room that she was sleeping in got bombed, but we are now transferring to another guest house where there is a shelter.”
CBS
Their launch comes practically two weeks after the war started. Israel mentioned its ongoing airstrikes hit extra Hamas targets within the Gaza Strip on Friday, as it started evacuating a city close to its northern border with Lebanon.
Friday’s airstrikes stopped within the early afternoon, catching some folks within the Palestinian territory off guard and prompting some to surprise if there was a cease-fire, in response to CBS News reporting from inside Gaza.
CBS News will air a one-hour particular, “Israel-Hamas War: The World on Edge,” on Friday, Oct. 20 at 10 p.m. ET on CBS and on CBS News Streaming. Download the CBS News app in your cellphone or related TV to observe.
