Hamas releases two American hostages held in Gaza
Hamas has released two American hostages – Judith Tai Raanan and her 17-year-old daughter, Natalie Raanan – nearly two weeks after it launched a deadly attack in Israel and abducted around 200 people, CNN reports.
The US citizens were handed over at the border with Gaza and are now in the care of the Israel Defense Forces, IDF spokesperson Daniel Hagari said Friday.
The US welcomes the release and "shares in the relief that their families, friends and loved ones are feeling," US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a briefing.
US President Joe Biden, who spoke with the released hostages by phone Friday, said he is “overjoyed” the mother and daughter will “soon be reunited with their family."
Israel previously told the US government that some Americans held hostage by Hamas are known to be alive, a US official told CNN.