Evanston Hostage Released By Hamas Celebrates 18th Birthday In Freedom

EVANSTON, IL — The North Shore teenager who was abducted while visiting her grandmother and held captive in the Gaza Strip for nearly two weeks is celebrating her 18th birthday in freedom.

Natalie Raanan and her mother, Judith, who have dual American and Israeli citizenship, were visiting family in a small town near the Gaza border when it was overrun by Hamas militants on Oct. 7. They were among more than 200 people who were abducted and taken to Gaza, according to the Israeli military.

On Friday, they became the first hostages freed by Hamas, with a spokesperson for the group's armed wing declaring the release was made by humanitarian reasons and Israeli government officials emphasizing the internationally designated terror group received nothing in return for their release.

Uri Raanan, Natalie's father, said Friday that their reunion would be the best day of his life.

"I haven't been sleeping for two weeks. Tonight I'm going to sleep good," he told reporters. "I talked with my daughter earlier today. She sounds very good, she looks very good, and she's waiting to come home."

---

Hours after they returned to Israel, the mother and daughter spoke on the phone with U.S. President Joe Biden, who on Saturday shared a video of the call.

"I'm so glad you're home," Biden said. "Or not home, but glad you're out."

"Thank you so very, very much," Natalie and Judith responded.

"Hey Nat, how are you? God love you," Biden asks.

"I just wanted to say thank you for your services for Israel," they said.

"Look, that's been long-serving. I'm just delighted we're able to get you out," Biden said. "We've been working on it a long time. We're going to get them all out, God willing."

Up to a dozen more U.S. citizens are thought to be held in Hamas custody.

Or Sella, a cousin of Judith and Natalie Raanan, said the relief family members feel over the pair's release is indescribable.

In a translation of a Hebrew video message, Sella said two members of their family were slain in the Oct. 7 attacks and more than a half-dozen relatives remain in captivity.

"However, we do not have the privilege to celebrate right now, just as sadly we do not have the privilege to mourn family members who have been murdered," Sella said.

"Now we continue in the efforts to bring home eight more hostages from our family: Lilach Kipnis, Shoshana Haran, Adi Shoham, Tal Shoham, Naveh Shoham, Yahel Shoham, Sharon Avigdori and Noam Avigdori," he said. "And also hostages belonging to over 200 other families, that together with us will not stop 24 hours a day under the hostages return home safely."

---

Rabbi Meir Hecht of Evanston Chabad, where Judith Raanan was a regular congregant, said it was important to stand up for everything America and the civilized world stands for.

Hecht told reporters he would ensure Natalie receives a special 18th birthday gift and expected a large celebration to be held when the pair return to the north suburbs.

"While we continue to be so happy and thankful for Natalie and Judith coming out of the hands of murderers, we also want everyone to continue to pray for the rest of the hostages — over 200 of them," Hecht said, "and to continue to do acts of goodness and kindness for our brothers and sisters in Israel and for all the people of the civilized world who are under attack during this time."

---

On Monday, Hamas released two more hostages — 85-year-old Yocheved Lifshitz and 79-year-old Nurit Cooper — who were taken from their homes in the village of Nir Oz.

Speaking to reporters in Tel Aviv, Lifshitz said she experienced a “hell that we never knew before and never thought we would experience." Lifshitz, whose husband remains in captivity in Gaza, said that Palestinian masses swarmed their village on Oct. 7, beating people and taking hostage.

“We were the scapegoat of the government,” Lifshitz said. “They (Hamas) warned us three weeks before they taught us a lesson. A huge crowd arrived at the road. They burned fields. They sent incendiary balloons to burn the fields, and the army didn’t take it seriously.”

Earlier: Hamas Releases American Mother, Daughter Held Hostage For 2 Weeks

The Associated Press contributed reporting.