American mother and daughter taken hostage by Hamas are RELEASED from Gaza, terror group claims, almost two weeks after massacre and kidnappings in Israel
Hamas claims to have released two US citizens held hostage in Gaza.
The Daily Mail understands that the names of the released hostages are Judith Raanan and Natalie Raanan, a mother and daughter from Chicago who were visiting Israel for a relative’s birthday when they were kidnapped.
Hamas armed wing spokesman Abu Ubaida issued a statement on Friday announcing the release, the first since gunmen from the militant group invaded Israel on October 7, killing 1,400 people and taking about 200 hostages.
The first confirmation of the hostages’ release came from Fox News reporter Trey Yingst, reporting from Israel, and Israeli journalist Almog Boker.
A senior US official could not immediately confirm the release but told DailyMail.com that the State Department planned to release further information in a briefing with reporters later on Friday.
Hamas hostages Judith Raanan and Natalie Raanan, a mother and daughter from Chicago, have been released by the terror group, the Daily Mail understands
Earlier this week, Martin Fletcher, one of MSNBC’s regular Middle East correspondents, broke out on air when he revealed that hostages Judith and Natalie Raanan are members of his wife’s family.
“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 Stephanie Ruhle on Thursday.
Through tears, Fletcher said, “Hamas is using the hostages for psychological warfare.” He described the conflict as something “very personal.”
“No one is really confident that it is possible to get them back alive,” he added somberly.
Abu Ubaida, a spokesman for Hamas’ armed wing, the Izz el-Deen al-Qassam Brigades, said the mother and daughter were released “on humanitarian grounds” in response to Qatari mediation efforts.
In a vociferous statement, Abu Ubaida said the move would “prove to the American people and the world that the claims of (President Joe) Biden and his fascist administration are false and baseless.”
Israel responded to the massacre and Hamas hostage crisis by bombarding Gaza with airstrikes, which Hamas says killed more than 4,000 people, and has said it will act to free the hostages while eradicating the terror group.
Israelis, whose loved ones were taken hostage during a Hamas attack, demonstrate earlier this week during a meeting between US President Joe Biden and Israeli leaders
Israeli tanks and troops have been massed near the perimeter of the enclave for an expected ground invasion, calling on Palestinians to evacuate northern Gaza where Hamas says it is dug in.
Israel has also said that the full blockade of the enclave will not end unless Israeli hostages are released.
Hamas says it has about 200 hostages and another 50 are being held by other armed groups in the enclave.
The group claimed that more than 20 hostages were killed by Israeli airstrikes, but did not provide further details.
Mother and daughter Judith and Natalie Raanan were visiting Israel from Chicago when they were kidnapped
Natalie Raanan is a typical 17-year-old: She loves art, makeup, fashion and DoorDash — “she hates eating at home,” her brother, Ben Raanan, told The Associated Press this week.
She graduated from high school in the Chicago suburbs this year and has a birthday coming up soon, according to her brother, who is 34 and lives in Denver.
Before traveling to Israel to celebrate her grandmother’s 85th birthday and the Jewish holidays with her mother, Judith Raanan, the teen was torn between studying interior or fashion design and interning at a tattoo parlor.
The pair sent updates as the trip progressed and enjoyed “this special mother and daughter time together,” said their rabbi, Meir Hecht.
But the family had not heard from mother or daughter since Hamas launched an unprecedented surprise attack.
Natalie Raanan was visiting family with her mother Judith over the High Holidays when the attack began on October 7.
Judith Raanan was also taken hostage together with her daughter. Their family in Illinois has not heard from them since Saturday
Natalie is “just a very loving, kind person,” said her older brother, Ben Raanan. Their middle brother, Adam, is nonverbal and much older than her, but Natalie makes it a priority to maintain a strong bond with him, he explained.
The family has been in contact with both U.S. and Israeli government officials, who confirmed that Natalie and Judith are still alive and being held hostage by Hamas, Ben Raanan said.
“This whole situation is surreal,” he said. ‘We are a very peaceful family. We do not at all advocate violence against anyone in this world.’
Judith Raanan was very active in her faith community, Chabad of Evanston, said her friend and rabbi’s wife, Yehudis Hecht.
Judith came to Shabbat almost every week, helped prepare Kiddush lunch and, just before leaving for Israel, dropped off a pink prayer book for the Hechts’ 7-year-old daughter, who loves the color, Yehudis Hecht said.
Several dozen community members gathered to pray for the safe return of the Raanans in the days after the Hamas attack.
‘Judith, we are thinking of you. Of your resilience, your hope, your love, your generosity, your faith and your strength. We know you are a strong woman and we pray that we will see you safe very soon with your sweet Natalie,” Yehudis Hecht said at the event.
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