Evanston Mom, Daughter Taken Hostage By Hamas Are Alive, Family Told

EVANSTON, IL — The North Shore mother and daughter who have been missing since Hamas last week overran the Israeli village they were visiting are believed to be alive, Israeli government officials have reportedly informed their family.

Judith Raanan, of Evanston, and her daughter, Natalie Raanan, who recently graduated Deerfield High School, are thought to have been abducted from the small kibbutz of Nahal Oz and taken across the nearby Gaza-Israel border.

"My sister and niece arrived to Israel to celebrate my mom's 85th birthday and spend the Jewish holidays with us," said Sarai Cohen, in a video message from Israel played at a prayer vigil Thursday in Evanston.

"As you know, Judith and Natalie were taken hostage by cruel Hamas terrorists during the Shabbat," Cohen said.

"Their only crime was being Jewish," she said.

About 150 people are believed to have been taken hostage by Hamas militants during terrorist attacks on Israeli towns along the border with the Gaza Strip that began early Saturday. According to National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby, that includes a "very small" number of Americans, although more than a dozen remain unaccounted for.

"I pray for them to come back and alive," Sigal Zamir, Natalie's aunt, said at the vigil. "Because they're innocent and loving and they didn't do anything — just innocent."

Avi Zamir, Natalie's uncle, described the 17-year-old as a "typical teenager" who "loves animals, likes life, likes friends."

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Avi Zamir and Uri Raanan, Natalie's father and Judith's ex-husband, on Friday both confirmed that they had been in contact with Israeli government representatives and notified Judith and Natalie "are alive" and being held captive in Gaza, though it is not known if they are behind kept together.

Friday morning, family members took part in a video teleconferencing call with President Joe Biden and the families of other missing Americans.

"They're going through agony not knowing what the status of their sons, daughters, husbands, wives, children are. You know, it's gut-wrenching," Biden told reporters.

"I assured them my personal commitment to do everything possible, everything possible, to return every missing American to their families," he said. "We're working 'round the clock to secure the release of Americans held by Hamas, in close cooperation with Israel and our partners around the region, and we're not going to stop until we bring them home."

Judith's friends described her as a skilled cook and artist who often gave her paintings to friends, the New York Times reported. She spent her early life in Israel before moving to the Chicago area, where she at one point created a line of skin care products and recently worked as a home aide for seniors. Her daughter had reportedly been taking a gap year before college to travel and explore fashion and interior design.

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Judith's 85-year-old mother was among those rescued from Nahal Oz, but as of Thursday, 15 people from Nahal Oz remain missing and 10 are believed to have been killed there. An online fundraiser is raising money for the survivors and families of residents of the village.

Evanston Mayor Daniel Biss said residents have joined with people across the world in horror and anguish at Hamas' terror attack.

"We are particularly heartbroken to learn that two Evanston women who were visiting family in Israel are missing," Biss said in a statement. "We extend our hearts to them, their loved ones, and all those affected by the unfolding tragedies."

“I hope that active measures are taken to quickly release all of the hostages, not just the Americans," Avi Zamir told the Chicago Sun-Times. "It is inhumane to keep them captive. They are just civilians."

The Associated Press contributed.