Biden Speaks With Released Gaza Hostages

President Joe Biden held a phone conversation with Judith and Natalie Raanan, who were liberated on Friday after being held captive in the Gaza Strip.

The mother and daughter had been taken hostage during Hamas’s terror attack on southern Israel on Oct. 7, an incursion that claimed the lives of 1,400 Israelis and the abduction of over 200 others. Judith and Natalie, who hail from Chicago, were in Israel to celebrate a family member’s birthday.

On Friday, Biden issued a statement claiming credit for the successful release of the mother and daughter, expressing gratitude to both the governments of Qatar and Israel for their collaborative efforts. He remarked, “Our fellow citizens have endured a harrowing ordeal over the past two weeks, and I’m elated that they will soon be reunited with their anxious family.”

Biden further assured, “These individuals and their family will receive unwavering support from the United States government as they embark on their journey to recovery and healing. In this moment, we should all respect their privacy.”

The IDF said that it has informed 210 families that their loved ones were abducted and taken to Gaza. The military emphasized the complexity of the situation, indicating that some hostages may have tragically lost their lives.

Among the abducted are approximately 20 to 30 children and 10 to 20 individuals aged 60 or older.