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The daddy of freed American teen hostage Natalie Raanan mentioned Friday she’s doing nicely following two weeks in captivity after she and her mom have been kidnapped in Israel by Hamas and held in Gaza.
Uri Raanan of Illinois informed The Related Press that he spoke to his daughter Friday by phone. “She’s doing good. She’s doing superb,” mentioned Uri, who lives within the Chicago suburbs. “I’m in tears, and I really feel very, superb.”
The 71-year-old mentioned he noticed on the information earlier Friday that an American mom and daughter could be launched by Hamas, and he spent the day hoping that meant his daughter and her mom, Judith.
Understanding Natalie might be able to rejoice her 18th birthday subsequent week at residence with household and associates feels “great. The very best information,” Uri Raanan mentioned.
He mentioned he believes Natalie and Judith to be in transit to Tel Aviv to reunite with kinfolk, and that each shall be again within the U.S. early subsequent week.
U.S. President Joe Biden was among the many many celebrating the beautiful information that the Raanans had been freed.
An Israeli military spokesman mentioned the 2 People have been out of the Gaza Strip and with the Israeli navy. Hamas mentioned Friday it launched them for humanitarian causes in an settlement with the Qatari authorities.
They have been the primary hostages to be launched since Hamas militants, in keeping with Israel, kidnapped roughly 200 individuals throughout their Oct. 7 rampage.
“I’m overjoyed that they are going to quickly be reunited with their household, who has been wracked with concern,” Biden mentioned in Washington. The president spoke Friday with Judith and Natalie and “relayed that they are going to have the total help of the U.S. authorities as they get better from this horrible ordeal,” the White Home mentioned.
The Worldwide Committee of the Pink Cross, which transported the freed People from Gaza to Israel, mentioned their launch supplied “a sliver of hope” for these nonetheless being held.
Judith and Natalie Ranaan had been on a visit from their residence within the Chicago suburb of Evanston to Israel to rejoice the Jewish holidays, in keeping with members of the family. They have been in Nahal Oz, close to Gaza, on Oct. 7 for Simchat Torah, a festive Jewish vacation, when Hamas militants stormed into southern Israeli cities, killing tons of of individuals and abducting dozens of others.
Their household had heard nothing from them for the reason that assault and have been later informed by U.S. and Israeli officers that they have been being held in Gaza, Natalie’s brother Ben has mentioned.
“The information that Judith and Natalie have been launched from the palms of Hamas is overwhelming. It brings us an amazing quantity of gratitude to the Almighty, to God, for this unbelievable miracle,” Meir Hecht, Judith Raanan’s rabbi, mentioned at a press convention exterior his residence in Evanston on Friday afternoon.
“On the similar time we maintain our ache very deep,” mentioned Hecht, who referred to as for the opposite hostages to be launched as quickly as attainable. “We have to proceed besieging whoever we are able to and nevertheless we are able to, and praying for his or her launch.”
Judith got here usually to Meir’s congregation and felt like “a part of our household,” the rabbi mentioned.
Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker and U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth expressed reduction at information of the Raanans’ launch whereas asking individuals to recollect different households whose kinfolk have been kidnapped.
“They’re now protected and receiving crucial medical remedy,” Pritzker mentioned of Natalie and Judith. “I can not wait to welcome them again residence after demonstrating immense energy and bravado within the face of unthinkable terror.”
French President Emmanuel Macron mentioned the discharge of the 2 People is “an excellent end result” and expressed hope it may assist pave the best way for others to be freed, together with French-Israelis feared held in Gaza.
Qatar mentioned it might proceed its dialogue with Israel and Hamas in hopes of successful the discharge of all hostages “with the final word intention of de-escalating the present disaster and restoring peace.”
Israeli navy spokesman Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari mentioned Israel was persevering with to work to return hostages and discover the lacking, and its targets had not modified. “We’re persevering with the conflict towards Hamas and prepared for the following stage of the conflict,” he mentioned.
The discharge comes amid rising expectations of a ground offensive that Israel says is geared toward rooting out Hamas militants who rule Gaza.
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