Hamas Releases American Mother, Daughter Held Hostage For 2 Weeks

EVANSTON, IL — Hamas on Friday released the Evanston mother and daughter that the group took hostage on Oct. 7, according to Israeli and American government officials.

Judith Raanan, 59, and her daughter, Natalie, 17, are reportedly the first of the 200 people to be released after being abducted by Hamas two weeks ago during cross-border raids by the internationally designated terrorist group.

The pair had been in Israel to visit Judith's mother for her 85th birthday.

A spokesperson for Hamas' armed wing announced that two hostages were released for "humanitarian reasons" following mediation by the gulf nation of Qatar, while Israeli government officials briefed reporters that the group made the move unilaterally.

“In response to Qatari efforts, Al-Qassam Brigades released two American citizens (a mother and her daughter) for humanitarian reasons, and to prove to the American people and the world that the claims made by Biden and his fascist administration are false and baseless," the group said, according to Reuters.

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Uri Raanan, Natalie's father, said it was the "best news" to find out that his daughter would be home to celebrate her 18th birthday.

“She’s doing good. She’s doing very good,” Uri Raanan said. “I’m in tears, and I feel very, very good.”

Meir Hecht, Judith's rabbi at Evanston Chabad, called on all the other hostages to be released as soon as possible.

“The news that Judith and Natalie have been released from the hands of Hamas is overwhelming. It brings us a tremendous amount of gratitude to the Almighty, to God, for this incredible miracle,” Hecht told reporters outside his home Friday afternoon.

“At the same time, we hold our pain very deep,” he said. “We need to continue besieging whoever we can and however we can, and praying for their release.”

Gov. J.B. Pritzker, a former Evanston resident, issued a statement following news of their release.

"I am incredibly relieved that Natalie and Judith Raanan of Evanston have been released from captivity in Gaza," Pritzker said.

"In what was supposed to be a visit to their loving family in Israel, they were violently abducted by a terrorist organization. After being held against their will for nearly two weeks, they are now safe and receiving necessary medical treatment," the governor said.

Senior Israeli officials confirmed the mother and daughter were handed over to the Red Cross. A senior diplomatic source told the Times of Israel that Qatar led the negotiations with Hamas that led to the release, with U.S. diplomats contributing to the effort.

"I cannot wait to welcome them back home after demonstrating immense strength and bravery in the face of unthinkable terror," Pritzker said. "We must continue to advocate and pray for the safe return of those still held by Hamas. We will not let those who use terror as their weapon win."

The Raanans were among more than a dozen people thought to have been taken captive from the Israeli village of Nahal Oz when it was overrun by Hamas gunmen. Judith's 85-year-old mother was among those rescued from Nahal Oz, but 10 others are believed to have been killed.

The principal of Deerfield High School, from which Natalie Raanan had graduated this spring, said the teen and her mother had made it back to Israel.

"We wish them safe and quick passage back to the US so that they can be reunited with their family as soon as possible," Kathryn Anderson said.

An Israeli military spokesperson said Judith and Natalie Raanan were in Israeli territory after being received by envoy Gal Hirsch along the Gaza border.

"The Israeli government, IDF and security forces will continue to act in every way to locate the missing and return all the hostages home," the spokesperson said in a statement. "While Hamas presents itself as to the world as having returned the hostage women for humanitarian purposes, when actually Hamas is in fact a murderous terrorist organization that right now is holding babies, children, women and elderly people hostage in the Gaza Strip, and continuing to commit crimes against humanity."

According to Israeli public broadcaster KAN News, Israeli government officials believe the hostage release is aimed at encouraging a delay to an expected Israel Defense Force ground offensive into Gaza.

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

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President Joe Biden identified the release of the 200 hostages abducted and taken to the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip as a top priority during his visit to Israel on Wednesday.

"To those who are living in limbo waiting desperately to learn the fate of loved ones, especially to families of the hostages: You’re not alone," Biden said.

"We’re working with partners throughout the region, pursuing every avenue to bring home those who are being held captive by Hamas," he said.

The Biden administration has not publicly confirmed the number of Americans thought to be in Hamas custody, although Biden said 31 Americans were killed.

"I can’t speak publicly about all the details, but let me assure you: For me as the American president," he said, "there is no higher priority than the release and safe return of all these hostages."

On Friday, Biden released a statement confirming the release of the pair.

"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. These individuals and their family will have the full support of the United States government as they recover and heal, and we should all respect their privacy in this moment," Biden said.

"From the earliest moments of this attack, we have been working around-the-clock to free American citizens who were taken hostage by Hamas, and we have not ceased our efforts to secure the release of those who are still being held," he continued. "I thank the government of Qatar and the government of Israel for their partnership in this work. Jill and I have been holding close in our hearts all the families of unaccounted for Americans. And, as I told those families when I spoke with them last week—we will not stop until we get their loved ones home. As president, I have no higher priority than the safety of Americans held hostage around the world."