Two U.S. citizens that were being held inside Gaza were released on Friday after they were kidnapped last weekend by the Islamic terrorist organization Hamas.
“In response to Qatari efforts, Al-Qassam Brigades released two American citizens (a mother and her daughter),” terrorists said in a statement.
Fox News correspondent Trey Yingst said that the two women who were released were Judith and Natalie Raanan, residents of Evanston, Illinois, located outside of Chicago. They were in Israel to “celebrate a relative’s 85th birthday and the Jewish holiday season,” according to the Times of Israel.
An Israeli official tells Fox News that the family of the hostages was notified. They were initially taken from Nahal Oz. Their names are Judith and Natalie Raanan. pic.twitter.com/5nhJSLUinZ
— Trey Yingst (@TreyYingst) October 20, 2023
The terrorists murdered 1,400 Israelis and 32 Americans during the attacks and wounded 3,000+ more. There are still more than 200 hostages being held hostage inside Gaza and 11 Americans remain unaccounted for.
Horrifying stories have emerged of the atrocities that the terrorists committed, including raping a young girl while her father was forced to listen over the phone, people so badly burned that their identities cannot be confirmed, and babies that were beheaded.
Everything before "we" and after "daughter" is propaganda. https://t.co/R2urf4a2IA
— Joe Truzman (@JoeTruzman) October 20, 2023
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have said that they believe that the majority of the hostages are still alive and that there were more than 20 minors that were kidnapped and up to 20 people over the age of 60.
“To those who are living in limbo, waiting desperately to learn the fate of a loved one, especially to families of the hostages – You’re not alone,” President Joe Biden said in a statement this week from Israel. “We’re working with partners throughout the region, pursuing every avenue to bring home those who are being held captive by Hamas.”
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