21-10-2023 (GAZA) In a remarkable turn of events, Gaza’s ruling Hamas authorities released two American hostages on Friday, a part of the roughly 200 individuals who were abducted during the brutal attacks in Israel on October 7. Judith Tai Raanan and her daughter, Natalie Shoshana Raanan, were safely returned to Israel late on Friday, as confirmed by the Israeli government.
Although no specific details regarding their condition were disclosed, US President Joe Biden expressed his elation upon hearing the news. President Biden personally spoke with the two women after their release.
Hamas indicated its commitment to working with Qatar and Egypt to secure the release of other “civilian” hostages, raising hopes for more positive developments on the horizon.
The two Americans were met at the Gaza border by an Israeli envoy and subsequently transported to a military base in central Israel, where their eagerly-awaiting families were poised to reunite with them.
The mother-daughter duo had been seized from the Nahal Oz kibbutz, located near the Israel-Gaza border, on that fateful October day while they were vacationing in Israel.
Much like the families of many hostages, the Raanan family had mounted an international campaign to rally support for their loved ones’ release. Ben Raanan, Natalie’s half-brother, expressed the overwhelming sense of joy and gratitude that enveloped their family upon receiving news of their release. He extended heartfelt thanks to the global community for their unwavering support and prayers.
Hamas reported that, following engagements with Qatar and Egypt, the “(Ezzedine) al-Qassam Brigades released two American citizens for humanitarian reasons.”
???????????????????????? Footage of Hamas releasing the two American hostages to The Red Cross.#ViratKohli #INDvsBAN #IsraelAttack #فلسطين_الان #غزة_تستغيث #IsraelTerorrist #PalestineGenocide #selfish # pic.twitter.com/1U3Yk0QjJI
— Sarfraz Naseervi (@SerfrazNaseervi) October 21, 2023
The situation in Gaza has been marked by intense turmoil, with Israel claiming that Hamas gunmen had abducted 203 individuals, including Israelis, dual nationals, and foreigners, during the deadliest attacks in Israel’s 75-year history. Tragically, at least 1,400 people lost their lives, the majority of whom were civilians, according to the Israeli government.
In response to these events, Israel launched a relentless bombing campaign against the Gaza Strip, resulting in the deaths of at least 4,137 people, predominantly civilians, according to the Hamas administration.
The hostages’ plight had assumed great significance in Israel, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office expressing unwavering determination to employ “any means available” to locate and secure the return of all the kidnapped individuals.
The International Committee of the Red Cross played a role in facilitating the transportation of the freed Americans to Israel. The organization’s president, Mirjana Spoljaric, acknowledged that this release offered a “sliver of hope” to the families of other hostages and called upon all parties involved in the conflict to demonstrate “a minimum of humanity.”
This heartening development took place two days after President Biden’s visit to Israel, aimed at expressing solidarity and support in the wake of the attacks. In response, President Biden shared, “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.”
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken advocated for additional releases, urging that they occur “immediately and unconditionally.” He also announced plans for a team from the US Embassy to visit the two freed women, though no information about their current condition was provided.
Qatar, a significant contributor of aid to Gaza, emerged as a pivotal mediator in the negotiations. Two Hamas leaders are based in the Gulf state. A Qatari foreign ministry spokesperson revealed that their nation had facilitated extensive communication between Hamas and the United States, which eventually led to these releases. Majid al-Ansari, the spokesperson, expressed hope for further dialogue with both Israel and Hamas to ensure the release of all civilian hostages of various nationalities, with the ultimate aim of de-escalating the ongoing crisis and restoring peace.
The Israeli military disclosed on Friday that, despite some grim discoveries during incursions into Gaza, most of the hostages who had been taken to Gaza were still alive. Additionally, it was revealed that more than 20 of the hostages were minors, while between 10 and 20 were over the age of 60. There also remain between 100 and 200 people classified as missing in the aftermath of the Hamas attacks.
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