An Illinois teenager launched on Friday by Hamas after 13 days in captivity is ‘doing very properly,’ her father mentioned, with new footage displaying the dramatic second she and her mom have been handed over to the Red Cross.
Natalie Shoshana Raanan, 17, and her mom Judith Tai Raanan, 59, arrived again in Israel late on Friday, the Israeli authorities confirmed, having left Gaza through an Egyptian-controlled crossing.
The Raanans walked out of Gaza with out apparent seen bodily accidents, getting out of a automotive after which being surrounded by ICRC employees carrying vests bearing the purple cross. The pair then obtained into a Red Cross car and drove away.
They are now receiving medical therapy, the governor of Illinois mentioned, with out offering particulars of their condition. The deal to free the pair was brokered by Qatar.
Her brother, Ben, joked that he was ‘aggravated’ as a result of she still seemed ‘like a supermodel’, regardless of her ordeal.
‘She’s doing good. She’s doing superb,’ mentioned Uri Raanan, 71, who lives in the Chicago suburbs, including that they didn’t talk about the place she was held or her situations in captivity.
‘She didn’t inform me something. But she informed me they deal with her good, and she or he was doing superb.
‘I’m going to hug her and kiss her, and it is going to be the finest day of my life.’
Natalie Raanan and her mom Judith are seen chatting with Joe Biden, in a photograph launched on Friday night time by the US embassy in Israel
Judith Raanan is seen being escorted out of Gaza on Friday, with her daughter Natalie to her proper
Judith Tai Raanan and her daughter Natalie Shoshana Raanan arrived again in Israel late on Friday, the Israeli authorities confirmed
Natalie Raanan and her father, Uri Raanan, are pictured in Mexico. He mentioned on Friday she was doing properly, regardless of her ordeal
Knowing Natalie could possibly rejoice her 18th birthday subsequent week at house with household and pals feels ‘fantastic. The finest information,’ Uri Raanan mentioned.
He mentioned he believes Natalie and Judith to be in transit to Tel Aviv to reunite with kin, and that each shall be again in the U.S. early subsequent week.
‘I spoke with my daughter earlier at this time – she sounds good, and she or he seems to be good,’ he informed a press convention outdoors his house.
‘I spoke with President Biden. I thanked him for his concern, in releasing them. He was very good.
‘I spoke to Governor Pritzker and he was good.
‘And hopefully I’ll see them subsequent week. Next week is Natalie’s birthday, and we are going to rejoice it right here.’
The father mentioned he first learnt of the doable launch by means of Israeli tv, after which obtained a name from the IDF.
He described the final 13 days as ‘the worst state of affairs,’ including that he had been saved in the darkish by their captors.
‘I didn’t sleep at night time and my head was at all times in Israel,’ he mentioned.
‘Lots of cellphone calls, heaps of TV. I’ve been glued to the television for two weeks, hoping for excellent news – and at last it got here.’
He added: ‘I didn’t lose hope. Praying, and simply ready for this second.’
An picture of the two being taken again into Israel was shared by authorities in the space, with the pair surrounded by armed troopers.
President Joe Biden has spoken to Uri Raanan – Natalie’s father, Judith’s ex-husband.
‘We have been in contact as a authorities not solely with the households of Natalie and Judith but additionally with the households of the different lacking Americans,’ mentioned Brett McGurk, the Middle East coordinator for the National Security Council.
‘We made very clear that we’re doing all we are able to to safe their security, too.’
Ben Raanan, Natalie’s brother, mentioned he was enjoying video video games when all of a sudden he obtained a flurry of textual content messages saying they can be freed.
‘To be trustworthy, I’m tremendous aggravated – how does my sister, after two weeks of captivity, still seem like a supermodel?!’
He mentioned their father informed him ‘Natalie is doing properly, composed.’
He added: ‘We are prepared to do that full trauma aid for her – pals, strangers, and individuals who need her to succeed with no matter she desires to do.’
Secretary of State Anthony Blinken informed reporters that 10 Americans stay hostages of Hamas, after it was revealed Illinois mom and daughter Judith and Natalie Raanan had been launched Friday
Hamas hostages Judith Raanan and Natalie Raanan, a mom and daughter from Chicago, have been launched by the terror group
Asked why they have been launched, whereas others remained, he mentioned: ‘I have no idea.
‘They are not politicians. They are not folks with intense emotions about Israel, Gaza, Palestine.
‘They are Israelis, they are loving folks, and I believe it could be one thing to do with that.’
He mentioned his coronary heart went out to these whose kin have been still lacking.
Ben mentioned he had heard tentatively she could also be returning to Chicago early subsequent week.
‘But that is depending on what the hospital say, and their bodily wellbeing, and ensuring their psychological well being is match for them to proceed this subsequent stage,’ he mentioned.
He thanked the Biden administration and the Qatari authorities.
‘And I need to thank everybody all through the nation who has been praying for our household.’
Natalie Raanan is pictured with her brother, Ben Raanan, in Chicago
Anthony Blinken, the Secretary of State, mentioned Hamas is still feared to be holding 10 Americans hostage.
The Secretary of State revealed the quantity still lacking throughout a press convention in which he introduced the launch of Judith and Natalie Raanan.
Blinken mentioned he had no additional info to supply on the ‘standing or condition’ of the Americans still believed to be in Hamas custody following the October 7 terror assaults.
‘I am unable to communicate publicly about the particulars of these efforts, and I do know you perceive that, however the pressing work to free each single American, to free all different hostages continues – as does our work to safe the protected passage out of Gaza for the Americans who are trapped there,’ he mentioned.
‘In this specific occasion, I need to thank the Government of Qatar for their essential help.’
He additionally refused to remark additional on how the Raanans are doing after being handed over.
Blinken informed reporters: ‘We welcome (the Raanans’) launch. We share in the aid that their households, pals and family members are feeling.
‘But there are still ten further Americans who stay unaccounted for in this battle.
‘Some of them are being held hostage by Hamas alongside with an estimated 200 different hostages held in Gaza. They embody males, ladies and younger boys, younger women and folks from many countries. Every single one of them ought to be launched.’
The Daily Mail was first to verify the identities of Judith Raanan and Natalie Raanan, a mom and daughter from Chicago who have been visiting Israel for a relative’s birthday when they have been kidnapped.
Hamas armed wing spokesman Abu Ubaida issued a assertion saying the launch on Friday, nearly two weeks after the militant group took round 200 hostages throughout an October 7 assault that killed 1,400 Israelis, largely civilians.
Judith and Natalie have been handed over to the Red Cross at an Egyptian border with the Gaza Strip and are now en path to a navy base in the middle of the nation, the place their household awaits them.
‘Two of our abducted are house,’ mentioned Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister.
‘We are not giving up the effort to convey all of the hostages and lacking folks house. At the identical time, we are persevering with to battle till victory.’
This photograph supplied by the Raanan household exhibits Natalie Raanan and her canine, Panda, in Chicago
Judith Raanan was launched on Friday alongside with her daughter
Jeremy Bash, former CIA chief of employees, mentioned Qatar was beneficial as an middleman as a result of Hamas’ political management works and lives out of Qatar and Turkey.
‘When there was a must get messages to Hamas in the previous, often Qatar is one of the go-betweens,’ mentioned Bash.
Bash mentioned Judith and Natalie Raanan will doubtless be fastidiously debriefed by the IDF and the Israeli safety company Shin Bet about any info they heard from their time underneath captivity.
That might embody intelligence about different hostages and Hamas’ communication techniques, he informed NBC.
‘This goes to be very actionable intelligence.’
President Biden launched a assertion saying his administration had ‘secured the launch’ of the Raanans and sympathized over the ‘horrible ordeal’ they’d endured.
He added that he was ‘overjoyed’ by the ladies’s launch and that he was persevering with to work to free different captured Americans.
‘The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) helped facilitate this launch by transporting the hostages from Gaza to Israel, underscoring the real-life influence of our position as a impartial actor between the combatants,’ the ICRC mentioned in a assertion.
‘More of this sort of humanitarian motion is urgently wanted in order that even more households will be reunited. Many folks are still desperately ready for information of their family members.’
The authorities of Qatar confirmed it helped safe the launch of the mom and daughter, in coordination with the Red Cross.
‘Two American civilian hostages have been launched by Hamas and handed over to the Red Cross in the Gaza Strip,’ mentioned Dr Majid Al-Ansari, spokesperson for Qatar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
‘Today’s breakthrough comes after many days of steady communication between all the events concerned.
‘We will proceed our dialogue with each the Israelis and Hamas, and we hope these efforts will result in the launch of all civilian hostages from each nationality, with the final goal of de-escalating the present disaster and restoring peace.’
J.B. Pritzker, the Democrat governor of Illinois, mentioned he was trying ahead to welcoming the pair house to their state.
‘I’m extremely relieved that Natalie and Judith Raanan of Evanston have been launched from captivity in Gaza,’ Pritzker mentioned in a assertion.
‘In what was alleged to be a go to to their loving household in Israel, they have been violently abducted by a terrorist group.
‘After being held in opposition to their will for almost two weeks, they are now protected and receiving essential medical therapy.’
He praised their fortitude whereas in captivity.
‘I can’t wait to welcome them again house after demonstrating immense energy and bravado in the face of unthinkable terror. We should proceed to advocate and pray for the protected return of these still held by Hamas. We is not going to let those that use terror as their weapon win,’ Pritzker mentioned.
Rabbi Meir Hecht with Chabad of Evanston, talks with reporters outdoors his house about the launch of Judith Raanan and her daughter Natalie
Hecht mentioned they have been all overjoyed at the information of the Raanans’ launch
A buddy of Judith’s, Chavah Rochel Golden, broke down in tears when she was informed they had been freed.
‘Baruch Hashem,’ she informed NBC News – a Hebrew phrase which means ‘blessed be God.’
Golden, who lives in Chicago, added: ‘Judith, we love you — go house and get some sleep, then let’s go to and hug one another.’
Golden mentioned Judith Raanan was a gifted painter with a beneficiant soul, and a decided streak.
‘She by no means stops. If one factor does not work, she tries one thing else, so it does not shock me that she’s coming house,’ Golden mentioned, including that each one the different hostages ought to now be freed.
‘I need to inform [Hamas] to let everyone go,’ she mentioned. ‘There’s no use. There’s no function.’
Earlier this week, Martin Fletcher, one of MSNBC’s long-term Middle East correspondents, broke down on air whereas revealing the hostages Judith and Natalie Raanan are members of his spouse’s household.
‘They have been final seen, their palms tied, being dragged away by the Hamas terrorists. So it is private, it is actual, and no one is admittedly assured that it is doable to get them again alive. Of course, everyone’s hoping,’ Fletcher informed Stephanie Ruhle on Thursday.
Through tears, Fletcher mentioned: ‘Hamas is utilizing the hostages for psychological warfare.’
He described the battle as a ‘very private factor.’
‘Nobody is admittedly assured that it is doable to get them again alive,’ he added.
Abu Ubaida, a spokesman for Hamas’ armed wing the Izz el-Deen al-Qassam Brigades, mentioned the mom and daughter have been launched ‘for humanitarian causes’ in response to Qatari mediation efforts.
In a defiant assertion, Abu Ubaida mentioned the transfer would ‘show to the American folks and the world that the claims made by Biden and his fascist administration are false and baseless.’
Israel responded to the Hamas bloodbath and hostage disaster by pounding Gaza with air strikes, killing more than 4,000 folks in line with Hamas, and has mentioned it’s going to act to free the hostages whereas wiping out the terror group.
Seventeen-year-old Natalie (above) and her mom have been visiting household in Israel for the Jewish holidays and a relative’s eighty fifth birthday
Israelis, whose shut ones have been taken hostage throughout a Hamas assault, display throughout a assembly between US President Joe Biden and Israeli leaders earlier this week
Israeli tanks and troops are massed close to the perimeter of the enclave for an anticipated floor invasion, calling on Palestinians to evacuate the north of Gaza, the place it says Hamas is dug in.
Israel has additionally mentioned that there shall be no finish to its full blockade of the enclave except Israeli hostages are freed.
Hamas says it has some 200 hostages and that fifty more are held by different armed teams in the enclave.
The group claimed more than 20 hostages have been killed by Israeli air strikes, however has not given any additional particulars.
Mother and daughter Judith and Natalie Raanan have been visiting Israel from Chicago when they have been abducted
Natalie Raanan is a typical 17-year-old: she loves artwork, make-up, style, and DoorDash – ‘she hates consuming at house,’ her brother, Ben Raanan, informed The Associated Press this week.
She graduated from highschool in the Chicago suburbs this yr, and has a birthday developing, in line with her brother, who’s 34 and based mostly in Denver.
Before she left on a journey to Israel to rejoice her grandmother’s eighty fifth birthday and the Jewish holidays with her mom, Judith Raanan, the teenager was deciding between going to varsity to review inside or style design and taking an apprenticeship with a tattoo store.
The pair had been sending updates as the journey progressed and have been having fun with ‘this actually particular mom and daughter time collectively,’ mentioned their rabbi, Meir Hecht.
But the household hadn’t heard from both mom or daughter since Hamas launched an unprecedented shock assault.
Natalie Raanan was visiting household for the High Holidays with her mom, Judith, when the assault started on October 7
Judith Raanan was additionally taken hostage alongside with her daughter
Natalie is ‘simply a very loving, sort individual,’ mentioned her older brother, Ben Raanan.
Their center brother, Adam, is nonverbal and far older than she is, however Natalie makes it a precedence to keep up a robust bond with him, he defined.
The household has been in contact with each U.S. and Israeli authorities officers, who confirmed Natalie and Judith are alive and being held hostage by Hamas, in line with Ben Raanan, talking previous to information of Friday’s launch.
‘This complete state of affairs is surreal,’ he mentioned. ‘We are a very peaceable household. We don’t advocate in any respect for any violence to be carried out to anybody in this world.’
Judith Raanan may be very lively in her religion group, Chabad of Evanston, mentioned her buddy and the rabbi’s spouse, Yehudis Hecht.
Judith got here to Shabbat nearly each week, helped put together the Kiddush lunch – the meal served after the service – and simply earlier than she left for Israel, dropped off a pink prayer ebook for the Hechts’ seven-year-old daughter, who loves the colour, mentioned Yehudis Hecht.
A number of dozen group members gathered to hope for the Raanans’ protected return in the days after the Hamas assault – and are set to be delighted at information of their protected launch.
‘Judith, we’re considering of you,’ mentioned Yehudis Hecht at the occasion.
‘Of your resilience, your hope, your love, your generosity, your religion and your energy.
‘We know you are a robust girl and we pray that we see you safely very quickly with your pricey Natalie.’
