Hamas Release American Hostages
In a recent development, Hamas released two American hostages, Judith Thaye Ran’an and her 17-year-old daughter, Natalie Ran’an, on Friday. The two hostages had been held captive in Israel for almost two weeks, in a perilous situation.
According to IDF spokesperson Daniel Haggary, American citizens were relocated to the Gaza border and are currently under the protection of Israeli defense forces. Per the office of the Israeli Prime Minister, they are heading to meet with the Israeli military at the moment.
Ran’an’s connection is from Chicago, and she had gone to meet with her relatives in the southern Israeli town of Nahal Oz when, according to her family, she was abducted on October 7.
Hamas Attack On Israel
During the attack, Hamas militant extremists killed more than 1,400 individuals, including ordinary citizens and soldiers, according to Israeli authorities. This was the deadliest attack by militant extremists in Israel’s 75-year history and revealed a remarkable intelligence failure on the part of the country’s security forces.
Since then, Israel has tightened its blockade on Gaza and initiated aerial assaults on the Palestinian territory, exacerbating the humanitarian crisis. According to the Palestinian Ministry of Health, more than 4,100 people have been killed in Israeli airstrikes in Gaza.
As for their release, it was reported through sources familiar with the negotiations that the American hostages were handed over to the Red Cross for “humanitarian reasons” due to the deteriorating health of their mother. The release resulted from negotiations between Qatar and Hamas.
Exclusive Statements
In a statement, Hamas spokesperson Abu Obeida stated, “In response to Qatari efforts, the Al-Qassam Brigades have released two American citizens (a mother and her daughter) on humanitarian grounds, to prove to the American people and the world that these claims were made.” He criticized the Biden administration as “misguided and unfounded.”
Qatar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson, Majid Al-Ansari, confirmed the release of the two American hostages and stated that they would continue to work with Israel and Hamas to pursue the release of all American citizens with ties to any nationality.
Natalie’s father and Judith’s former husband, Uri Ran’an, expressed immense relief upon hearing about their release.
Ronan shared, “I haven’t slept properly for two weeks. I’m looking forward to a peaceful night’s sleep.”
He additionally remarked, “Next week, precisely on the 24th, marks Natalie’s birthday, and we plan to commemorate it in our home. I am going to hug her and kiss her, and it is going to be the best day of my life.”
Miracles and Gratitude
Rabbi Meir Hecht’s synagogue, where Judith had attended, was illuminated on Friday as they initiated the Sabbath. His wife, Yehudit Hecht, lit two candles, saying, “I offered thanks to God for the miracles and prayed for continuous miracles for all of Israel.”
“This is unreal. We love Judith, and it is clear our hearts were turned, broken, when we didn’t know where they were,” she said. “We are grateful and pray they will recover quickly from everything they went through.”
American President Joe Biden expressed his happiness, saying that he is “very happy” that both American citizens will “soon be reunited with their families” and called for their privacy.
He said, “American families are dear to both Jill and me. And, as I told these families when I spoke to them last week, we will not stop until we get their loved ones home.”
Diplomatic Efforts by Hamas
An embassy source with knowledge of the arrangements said that the release of the two American hostages is “hopefully the start of more to come.” It was clarified that no exchange was part of their release.
This news comes in the wake of President Biden, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, and UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s recent visits to Israel, where they increased pressure on global leaders for the release of hostages.
It’s important to note that among those abducted by Hamas, there were several non-U.S. citizens, including individuals from the United States, Mexico, Brazil, and Thailand.
The identities, locations, and affiliations of all hostages remain largely undisclosed. Some were recognized by the families through online videos, and they await the safe return of their loved ones.
Hamas’s Release Statement
In a statement on Friday, Hamas announced that they are working in collaboration with third parties in Egypt, Qatar, and other “friendly nations” to secure the release of non-U.S. citizens, emphasizing that their determination is unwavering, as they endeavor to implement their decision to release foreign nationals in temporary custody when security conditions permit.
Representatives of the hostages welcomed the release of the two Americans in a joint statement, stating, “The headquarters of the families welcomes the release of the American hostages by the Al-Qassam Brigades. We call upon international leaders and the global community to do everything in their power to secure the release of all hostages and missing individuals.
Conclusion
Hamas is considered a terrorist association by some countries and associations, including the United States, Israel, and the European Union. They’ve been involved in fortified conflicts and have used violence, which has led to this bracket in some regions. Still, it’s important to note that the designation of Hamas varies depending on the country or association, and there are differing opinions on this matter.
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