Hamas releases American mother and daughter; They reunite with family

Hamas militants released two American hostages, Judith Tai Raanan and her daughter, Natalie Raanan, on Friday. They were handed over to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). They were reunited with family in Israel. 

Judith Tai Raanan, 59, and her daughter Natalie, 17, suffered due to the Hamas-Israel conflict. In a huge victory for women’s rights, they were released by Hamas fighters. 

On 7 October, Hamas fighters abducted them and dozens of others near the Gaza border. The mother-daughter duo came to Israel to meet their relatives in Nahal Oz, a community in southern Israel. During the attack, Hamas militants kidnapped them along with other people.

Why did Hamas release an American mother and daughter?

Hamas said that the group released the American mother-daughter duo because of “humanitarian grounds.” Judith Tai Raanan was in poor health. The United States also confirmed the release of the two American hostages. 

Uri Raanan, Natalie’s father and Judith’s ex-husband, expressed happiness after hearing the news. He said, “I’m going to hug her and kiss her, and it’s going to be the best day of my life.” 

US President Joe Biden said that the two US citizens would “soon be reunited with their family.” Biden said, “Jill and I have been holding close in our hearts all the families of unaccounted for Americans.”

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Israel-Hamas conflict

The Israel-Hamas conflict has caused a humanitarian catastrophe in the region. Israelis and Palestinians living in the region are facing the consequences of the conflict.

UNICEF (United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund) said, “Many children have been killed or injured.” According to multiple reports and knowledgeable sources, Hamas gunmen also raped some women. 

A German woman, who was attending the music festival near the Gaza border, was also paraded naked by Hamas militants. The incident shocked the entire world. 

Israeli forces also said that “women, children and toddlers as well as elderly were brutally butchered in an ISIS way of action.”

Amid the ongoing conflict, Hamas militants kidnapped various civilians, including women and small babies, which is a huge blow to human rights.