The freed Hamas hostages, 18-year-old Natalie Raanan and her mother Judith, will soon return to the United States. – I haven’t slept for two weeks, but I’ll finally sleep today. I talked to my daughter. She sounded okay, looks good. She is happy and can’t wait to return home, said the teenager’s father and ex-husband of the older woman at a press conference.
The spokesman for the armed wing of the Palestinian Hamas, Abu Obeida, announced on Friday the release of the hostages from… USA – a mother and her daughter – for “humanitarian reasons”. The president confirmed this information Joe Bidenwho announced that “efforts are underway to release additional hostages.”
The Times of Israel website reported that the freed women were 18-year-old Natalie Raanan and her mother, Judith. Two Illinoisans came to… Israel for the birthday of one of my relatives. On October 7 this year, the family celebrated Simchat Torah together at Kibbutz Nahal Oz, near the border with the Gaza Strip, an unnamed high-level Israeli official told the website.
READ ALSO: Hamas released two American hostages. Biden: They’ve been through a terrible ordeal
“I’ll see you next week and we’ll celebrate. We’re having a big party.”
The Israeli government and the U.S. embassy in Israel released photos of the freed women.
The Israeli government and the US embassy in Israel published photos of the freed American womenReuters
At a press conference, Uri Raanan, the father and ex-husband of the freed American women, said he had “waited a long time for this moment.” – I haven’t slept for two weeks, but I’ll finally sleep today. I talked to my daughter. She sounded okay, looks good. She is happy and can’t wait to go home. Her mother has a scratch on her hand, but it’s nothing serious, he said.
The women are expected to return to the United States soon. Natalie’s birthday is in a few days.
– I’ll see you next week and we’ll celebrate. We are having a big party, we will kiss and hug you. This will be a moment of joy for our family, but we pray and expect good news about the remaining hostages, said Sigal Zamir, a family member of the freed women.
Main photo source: Reuters