Israel confirmed the first release of two hostages held by the Islamist Hamas in the Gaza Strip. “This evening (Friday), Judith Tai Raanan and Natalie Shoshana Raanan were released from the hands of the terrorist organization Hamas,” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said Friday night. According to media reports, the two are US citizens.
The Israeli responsible for those kidnapped and missing, Brigadier General Gal Hirsh, received them at the border of the Gaza Strip. The two women are now heading to a military base in the center of the country, where their families are waiting for them, it was said.
Hamas’ military wing had previously said it had released two American citizens (a mother and her daughter) on humanitarian grounds, in response to Qatar’s efforts. According to its own statement, the Al-Qassam Brigades wanted to “prove to the American people and the world that the allegations of (US President Joe) Biden and his fascist government are false and baseless”.
The women kidnapped from Kibbutz Nahal Oz, near the border with Gaza, were on their way to a military base in central Israel, a statement from Netanyahu’s office said. According to US media reports, they came from Evanston, a suburb of Chicago. US President Joe Biden thanked Qatar for its efforts.
Qatar’s Foreign Ministry said the disclosure came “after many days of continuous communication.” Dialogue on the release of the hostages will continue, a spokesman said.
Terrorists in the name of Hamas, which governs the Gaza Strip, carried out a massacre of civilians in Israel on October 7th. More than 1,400 people died during and in the following days. According to the Israeli army, at least 203 other people were forcibly taken to the Gaza Strip, including several foreigners. The army says it believes most of the hostages are still alive.
According to the military, more than 20 children and young people are among those kidnapped. Another 100 to 200 people are still missing since the terrorist attacks.