Judith and Natalie Raanan, a mother and daughter from Evanston who have been hostages of terrorist group Hamas since Oct. 7, have been released, according to the Israeli and United States governments.
“Judith and Natalie are in Israel, where a team from the United States embassy will meet with them shortly,” Matthew Miller, spokesperson for the United States Department of State, said at a Friday afternoon news conference.
“We’re very anxious to be able to reunite them with their loved ones,” Miller said. “We welcome their release; we share in the relief that their families, friends and loved ones are feeling.”
Natalie, 17, and Judith, 59, were taken hostage during a visit to Israel by Hamas, which controls the Gaza strip, during a coordinated attack on Oct. 7. They had been visiting relatives at Nahal Oz in southern Israel when Hamas operatives entered the kibbutz during a surprise attack by the region, Ben Raanan, Natalie’s brother and Judith’s stepson, told the Tribune on Wednesday.
Natalie’s family members last heard from her on the morning of Oct. 7, U.S. time, he had said.
As news of their release began to spread early Friday, Uri Raanan, Natalie’s father and Judith’s ex-husband, told the Tribune he was still “waiting for confirmation from the IDF. I’m waiting for my daughter.”
Their release was confirmed later that afternoon by the Israeli government.
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“We just got confirmation that our two constituents have been released and are at the Red Cross in Israel,” a spokesperson for Illinois Democrat Rep. Jan Schakowsky said.
Gov. J.B. Pritzker released a statement that he is “incredibly relieved” that Judith and Natalie have been released. The pair are now receiving medical attention, he said.
CNN reported that Judith has fallen into poor health.
“I cannot wait to welcome them back home after demonstrating immense strength and bravery in the face of unthinkable terror,” Pritzker said in the statement. “We must continue to advocate and pray for the safe return of those still held by Hamas.”
Chabad national Director of Media Motti Seligson wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter, that Judith and Natalie had been released through Egypt.
Natalie was born near Chicago but spent most of the first decade of her life in Israel with mom Judith. Natalie graduated from Deerfield High School in the spring and had hopes of going into fashion design, interior decorating or tattooing.
“She’s not a politician or a soldier,” Ben had said of his sister. “She is an artist.”
Natalie had traveled in Italy to celebrate her high school graduation before heading to Israel with her mother, her brother said.
Judith was born in Israel and often goes by her Hebrew name, Yehudit, or Yehudit bat Tamar, which means daughter of Tamar. She works in Evanston as an aesthetician and has also worked as a life coach.
“Judith is a very kind of spiritual person who loves people,” Ben said.
Rabbi Meir Hecht of Evanston Chabad called the news of Judith and Natalie’s release “overwhelming.” Both Judith and Natalie are active in the Chabad community, he said, and have always been kind and generous to other congregants.
“Judith was always excited to be part of the congregation and spiritual activities. A very spiritual woman, like I said, an artist,” Hecht said. “She and Natalie are both such kind spirits and such kind souls. People that would never harm someone else. To know that they were harmed in such a way, it adds to the pain so much more painfully and so much deeper.”
At the news conference, Miller said ten Americans are still unaccounted for in Gaza. Some are being held hostage by Hamas, along with 200 other people from multiple countries.
Securing release for hostages remains a top priority for the Biden administration, Miller said. Biden and Department of State representatives met with Israeli families of hostages last week.
“It is impossible to adequately put into words the agony they’re feeling of not knowing the fate of their loved ones, worrying relentlessly about them, for their safety, for their security, for their well-being,” Miller said. “No family anywhere should have to experience this torture.”
Miller thanked the Qatari government for its role in negotiating Judith and Natalie’s release. Hamas spokesman Abu Ubaida said Qatari mediation efforts contributed to Hamas’ decision to release Judith and Natalie, Reuters reported today.
“In this instance, we very much appreciate their assistance,” Miller said.
U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin said he was “incredibly relieved” to hear about the release of Natalie and Judith.
“I pray for their health and safe return to their family,” Durbin wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter, and called for the release of the remaining hostages.
A senior Israeli official confirmed Judith and Natalie’s identities to the Times of Israel early Friday afternoon as Judith and Natalie, who hold dual American and Israeli citizenship.
Abu Ubaida, a spokesman for Hamas’ armed wing, said they released the citizens “for humanitarian reasons, and to prove to the American people and the world that the claims made by (President Joe) Biden and his fascist administration are false and baseless,” Reuters reported.
Reuters also reported that Hamas said more than 20 hostages have been killed by Israeli airstrikes, with 50 more held by armed enclaves throughout the area.
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baiduhai’s Chloe Hilles and Alexandra Hulvalchick contributed.