KUALA LUMPUR – Two American women, who were just released after being abducted for almost two weeks by Hamas near Gaza, have been reunited with their family in Israel while relatives celebrated in Illinois, US.
Hamas separately released a video of the two women – Judith Tai Raanan, 59, and her daughter Natalie, 17 – being handed over to the International Committee for the Red Cross (ICRC) workers.
The duo was reportedly the first Hamas captives whose release was confirmed by both sides – Hamas spokesman Abu Ubaida and a statement from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Meanwhile, Natalie’s father Uri Raanan told Reuters that he spoke to her on the phone.
“She sounds very, very good, very happy – and she looks good,” he was quoted as saying.
The mother and daughter were visiting Kibbutz Nahal Oz, a mile from the Gaza border, as part of a trip to celebrate the Jewish holidays, Natalie’s high school graduation and the 85th birthday of her grandmother.
During their release, a group of uniformed Israel Defense Forces personnel escorted them away from the border.
Hamas had said the women’s release were for “for humanitarian reasons” as a response to mediation by Qatar.
Previously, it was reported that some 200 people were taken captive by Hamas, but the group said 50 captives are held by other armed groups and more than 20 were killed by Israeli air strikes.
Days ago, Israel and Gaza authorities blamed each other, with the latter saying an Israeli air strike on the Al-Ahli al-Arabi Hospital in the Palestinian enclave killed about 500 people.
The hospital bombing triggered massive protests in the occupied West Bank, Istanbul, Amman and several major cities around the world.
The Israel-Gaza war since October 7 has left thousands dead and injured. – October 21, 2023