President Biden is ‘overjoyed’ at Hamas’ release of American hostages Judith Raanan and Natalie Raanan while maintaining efforts have ‘not ceased’ as MORE citizens are still held captive in Gaza

President Joe Biden said Friday afternoon that he was “overjoyed” that Hamas has released two American hostages after being promised by the Oval Officer that there was “no higher priority” than bringing them home.

DailyMail.com confirmed that the two hostages are Judith Raanan and Natalie Raanan, 17, a mother and daughter from Chicago who were visiting Israel for a relative’s birthday when they were kidnapped by Hamas terrorists.

Biden’s statement also indicated that more Americans are being held captive in Gaza.

“Our fellow citizens have endured a terrible ordeal over the past fortnight, and I am overjoyed that they will soon be reunited with their families, who are tormented by fear,” the president said in a statement.

“From the earliest moments of this attack, we have worked around the clock to free American citizens held hostage by Hamas, and we have not halted our efforts to secure the release of those still held,” Biden said. also said.

DailyMail.com confirmed that the two hostages are Judith Raanan and Natalie Raanan, 17, a mother and daughter from Chicago who were visiting Israel for a relative’s birthday when they were kidnapped by Hamas terrorists.

Natalie Ranaan was visiting family with her mother Judith over the High Holidays when the abuse started on Saturday. Family members had not heard from either woman until news came Friday that they were being released

Abu Ubaida, a spokesman for Hamas’s armed wing, the Izz el-Deen al-Qassam Brigades, said the Raanans were released “on humanitarian grounds” in response to Qatar’s mediation efforts.

Some reports suggested that Judith Ranaan was not in good health after the kidnapping.

“I thank the government of Qatar and the government of Israel for their partnership in this work,” Biden said.

They were handed over to the Israelis at an Egyptian border crossing along the Gaza Strip and are now on their way to a military base in central Israel, where relatives are waiting for them.

The mother and daughter are related to the wife of NBC journalist Martin Fletcher, who shed tears Thursday over their kidnapping.

“They were last seen with their hands tied as they were being dragged away by the Hamas terrorists. So it’s personal, it’s real, and no one is really confident that it’s possible to get them back alive. Of course, everyone hopes,” Fletcher told the channel’s Stephanie Ruhle.

Through tears, Fletcher said, “Hamas is using the hostages for psychological warfare.” He described the conflict as something “very personal.”

Judith Raanan was also taken hostage together with her daughter. Hamas said the two Americans were released “on humanitarian grounds” in response to Qatar’s mediation efforts

Martin Fletcher appeared on MSNBC’s Stephanie Ruhle and described how personal the current conflict in Israel is now that two members of his wife’s family have been taken by Hamas. These two hostages have now been released

“No one is really confident that it is possible to get them back alive,” he added somberly.

During Thursday night’s speech, Biden said, “As president, there is no higher priority for me than the safety of Americans held hostage,” explaining that “we are pursuing every opportunity to bring their loved ones home.”

He reiterated that point in Friday’s statement.

“Jill and I hold all the families of missing Americans close to our hearts,” he said.