Natalie Raanan, the freed American teen hostage who was kidnapped by Hamas in Israel and held in Gaza with her mother, is doing fine after two weeks in captivity, her father said Friday.
Uri Raanan of Illinois told The Associated Press that he spoke to his daughter by phone on Friday. “She’s doing great. She’s doing great,” said Urie, who lives in suburban Chicago. “I was in tears and I felt really, really good.”
The 71-year-old said he saw in the news earlier Friday that Hamas was going to release an American mother and daughter, and he had hoped all day that it meant his daughter and her mother, Judith.
Knowing Natalie might be able to celebrate her 18th birthday at home with family and friends next week feels “so great”. The best news,” Uri Ranan said.
He said he believed Natalie and Judith would travel to Tel Aviv to reunite with relatives and that the pair would return to the United States early next week.
US President Joe Biden was one of many to celebrate the shocking news The Lananites were released.
An Israeli military spokesman said the two Americans had left Gaza and were with Israeli troops. Hamas said on Friday it had released them in an agreement with the Qatari government for humanitarian reasons.
According to Israel, they are the first hostages to be released since Hamas militants kidnapped about 200 people during an Oct. 7 uprising.
“I’m very pleased that they will soon be reunited with their families who have been devastated by their fear,” Biden said in Washington. The White House said the president spoke with Judith and Natalie on Friday and “said they will continue to work together as they emerge from this crisis.” He has the full support of the United States government as he recovers from his horrific ordeal.”
The International Committee of the Red Cross, which transported the freed Americans from Gaza to Israel, said their release provided “a glimmer of hope” for those still imprisoned.
Judith and Natalie Lanan traveled from their home in the Chicago suburb of Evanston to Israel to celebrate the Jewish holiday, according to family members. They were celebrating the Jewish holiday Simchat Torah in Nahal Oz, near Gaza, on October 7 when Hamas militants stormed the southern Israeli town, killing hundreds and kidnapping dozens more.
Natalie’s brother, Ben, said the family had heard nothing since the attack and were later told by U.S. and Israeli officials that they were being held in Gaza.
“The news that Judith and Natalie have been freed from Hamas is shocking. Judith Raanan’s Rabbi Meir Hecht spoke at his home in Evans on Friday afternoon At a press conference held outside his home, Don said:
“At the same time, we feel deep pain,” Hecht said, calling for the other hostages to be released as soon as possible. “We need to continue to round up who we can, do what we can, and pray for their release.”
Judith attended Meir’s congregation regularly and felt like “part of our family,” the rabbi said.
Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth expressed relief at the news of the Lanans’ release, while asking people to remember other families whose relatives have been kidnapped.
“They are safe now and receiving necessary medical treatment,” Pritzker said of Natalie and Judith. “I have shown tremendous strength and courage in the face of unimaginable horror and I can’t wait to welcome them home.”
French President Emmanuel Macron said the release of the two Americans was “a very good result” and expressed hope it would help pave the way for the release of others, including French-Israelis feared to be imprisoned in Gaza.
Qatar said it would continue dialogue with Israel and Hamas in the hope of winning the release of all hostages “with the ultimate goal of easing the current crisis and restoring peace.”
Israeli military spokesman Maj. Gen. Daniel Hagari said Israel was continuing its efforts to free the hostages and find the missing, and its goals had not changed. “We are continuing the war against Hamas and preparing for the next phase of the war,” he said.
On the occasion of this release, people are interested in ground attack Israel says it aims to root out the Hamas militants who rule Gaza.
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