By Cyrille Louis
Published yesterday at 10pm, updated 42 minutes ago
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The American president thanked Qatar and Israel for their “partnership” in the operation that led to the release of these two women kidnapped by Hamas.
Special envoy for Jerusalem
The news broke early Friday evening. Just two weeks after they were captured by Hamas during the deadly Oct. 7 raid, two American hostages were turned over to the Red Cross by their captors and then transferred to Israel. Judith Raanan, 59, and her daughter Natalie, 17, then had to go to a military base in the center of the country to reunite with their loved ones. The army released a photo of the two women walking through the night accompanied by soldiers. “We will do everything we can to bring the rest of the prisoners home,” the Israeli government said. According to consistent sources, more than 200 hostages remain held in the coastal enclave. According to unconfirmed claims by Hamas, around twenty of them have been killed in Israeli army bombings in recent days.
This first release, presented by the armed group as a humanitarian gesture, officially took place without compensation. However, the Rafah border crossing reopened on Saturday morning for the first time since the start of the war to allow the transport of food from Egypt and the emigration of Palestinians with dual nationality. “We will continue our dialogue with both the Israelis and Hamas,” stated a spokesman for the Qatari Foreign Ministry, which appears to have actively contributed to this outcome, hoping that these efforts will lead to the release of all civilian hostages of all nationalities. with the ultimate goal of achieving a de-escalation of the current crisis and restoring peace.”
Last Monday, Hamas military wing spokesman Abou Obeida suggested that hostages with dual nationality could be released “if circumstances permit.” In the meantime, he said, “they are our guests and we are trying to protect them.” Daniel Shek, a former Israeli ambassador to France who currently advises families of prisoners, believes Hamas probably did not expect this. having to manage such a large number of binational prisoners. “It is possible,” he said, “that the movement will release them as a priority to avoid a dispute with the whole world.”
Joe Biden “overjoyed”
Judith Raanan and her daughter Natalie were captured during the attack on Kibbutz Nahal Oz, less than two kilometers from the “security fence” separating Israel from the Palestinian enclave, near Gaza City. According to the Haaretz daily, these two residents of Evanston, in the suburbs of Chicago, Illinois, were in Israel to celebrate the 85th birthday of Tamar Levitan, the mother of Judith, who has lived in this town for nine years. On Saturday, October 7, Tamar tried to contact her daughter as soon as the sirens sounded announcing rocket fire. “She didn’t answer,” she said. I knew she wouldn’t pick up because she celebrates Shabbat.”
As soon as they were informed of their arrest, relatives of Judith and Natalie Raanan contacted the U.S. Embassy in Israel and American Jewish organizations. Several family members met with President Joe Biden and his Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Tel Aviv on Wednesday. “The President of the United States found the time to be humane and speak to the family personally,” Judith’s sister Sheri Levitan later told Haaretz. “Three FBI representatives are in constant contact with us,” she added.
President Joe Biden, who said he was “overjoyed” by the announcement of this release, thanked the authorities of Israel and Qatar. “Since the first hours of this attack,” he said, “we have worked continually to free American citizens taken hostage by Hamas, and we will continue our efforts to release those who remain detained.” » In Tel Aviv, the forum bringing together the families of hostages and those missing since the attacks welcomed the news. “Hamas has committed war crimes,” it said in a statement, “and the many Arab leaders who have influence over its leaders must act to secure the immediate release of all hostages and missing persons.”