American Natalie Raanan, one of more than 200 people taken hostage by Hamas during its Oct. 7 attack on Israel and released along with her mother nearly two weeks later, returned to the United States, said Israel’s consul general in the American Midwest on Tuesday.
• Also read: Most of the hostages are still alive
“I am relieved to see Natalie back home,” Yinam Cohen said in a statement.
“His family was eagerly waiting for his return and today I share their joy,” he added.
Judith Tai Raanan and Natalie Shoshana Raanan, who just turned 18, were kidnapped by Hamas on October 7 from the kibbutz (collectivist farming village) Nahal Oz, where they were visiting family.
They regained their freedom on October 20th. It was the first hostage release confirmed by both sides.
Both women lived in Evanston, a suburb of Chicago.
In Israel, authorities say more than 1,400 people have died since October 7, mostly civilians killed on the day of the Hamas attack. According to the same source, almost 240 hostages, many of them foreign workers, are still in the hands of Hamas.
In retaliation, Israel declared a war to “annihilate” Hamas.
According to the Hamas Health Ministry, more than 8,525 Palestinians, mostly civilians, have been killed since the Israeli army began its incessant bombardment of the Gaza Strip.