On October 7th, during the attacks, Hamas kidnapped Judith Ranin and her daughter, Natalie Ranin, (two American Hostages) near the Gaza border from a kibbutz. Their release brought joy to the Biden family as Israeli forces took control of the Gaza Strip, where hundreds of thousands still await aid distribution through the Egyptian border.
The United States has stated its commitment to working towards the release of all American citizens held by Hamas, as the previously released two American Hostages were reunited with their families. However, Israel launched an attack on Gaza, where many still wait for the promised aid distribution.
Late on Friday night, following the expression of happiness about the release of the American hostages, President Joe Biden agreed with a reporter’s suggestion that Israel should delay any ground assault on the enclave, given the engine noise of the plane while boarding Air Force One.
“The President was quite distant, and he didn’t hear the entire question,” said White House Communications Director Ben Labolt. “It seemed like the question was: ‘Would you like to see more hostages released?’ He wasn’t commenting on anything else,” Labolt explained.
Mirjana Spoljaric, the President of the International Committee of the Red Cross, called the release a rare “ray of hope.”
In a late Friday statement, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that rescue efforts and military operations would continue. “Our two abducted are home. We are not giving up on bringing back all our captives and MIAs. And we will continue to fight to victory,” he stated.
These events unfolded against the backdrop of bleak scenes inside the Gaza Strip, where there is no sign of assistance crossing the vital Rafah border with Egypt. Palestinian media reported that on Saturday, Israeli planes struck six homes in northern Gaza, resulting in at least eight Palestinian deaths and 45 wounded.
The main Palestinian Christian sect, represented in Jerusalem by the Custodian of the Holy Land, stated that Israeli forces targeted the Church of Saint Porphyrius in Gaza, where hundreds of Christians and Muslims sought refuge. Gaza’s Hamas-run Government Media Office stated that 18 Palestinian Christians have been killed, with the Health Ministry later confirming 16 casualties.
The Israel Defense Forces claimed that a portion of the strike on the Hamas command center involved in rocket and mortar launchings at the bordering Passageway with Hamas in carrying out its assessment.
The International Committee of the Red Cross reported that over 140,000 homes, nearly three-quarters of all homes in Gaza, have been damaged, with nearly 13,000 completely destroyed.
In the midst of these events, the father of the freed American hostage, Natalie Ranin, Uri Ranin, spoke to the Associated Press on Friday, expressing his happiness: “She’s doing good. She’s doing really well.”
Ranin, who lives in the Chicago suburbs, talked to his daughter on the phone on Friday. He said, “I’m in tears, and I feel really good.” He added that knowing his daughter would celebrate her 18th birthday at home with family and friends next week was “fantastic – the best news.”
On October 7, during the Hamas attack on Israel, 17-year-old Natalie Ranin and her mother, 59-year-old Judith (two American Hostages), were abducted and turned into hostages in Gaza. Late Friday night, Netanyahu’s office announced that they had been transferred to Egypt through the Rafah crossing, where they met with Israeli security officials.
President Biden expressed his joy at the release of the two American Hostages and vowed to continue his efforts to secure the freedom of additional American hostages. “We have been working around the clock to free American citizens taken captive by Hamas,” he stated. “We will not stop until we have ensured the release of those who are still being held.”
Natalie Ranin’s uncle, Avram Zamir, expressed the family’s relief that the reunited two American Hostages had been safely released. Speaking from their home in Illinois, he said, “But there are still many families whose loved ones are still being held hostage, and we will continue our efforts to secure their release.”
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken mentioned that even after the Hamas attack, there are still 10 missing Americans. Blinken told reporters, “We know that some of them have been made hostage by Hamas.”
French President Emmanuel Macron called the release of the two American Hostages “a very good outcome” and expressed hope that it could pave the way for the release of the captured French-Israeli citizens in Gaza and others.
Israeli military spokesman Rear Admiral Daniel Hagar stated that Israel is continuing its efforts to bring back the hostages and locate missing individuals, and its goals have not changed. He said, “The IDF can clearly say that the church was not the target of the attack.”
The United Nations Office for Humanitarian Affairs reported that over 140,000 homes in Gaza, nearly three-quarters of all homes, have been damaged, with nearly 13,000 completely destroyed.
In the midst of ongoing tensions, the meeting was expected to focus on stopping the regional escalation and reducing threats from Hamas, with world leaders aiming to address the issues of ceasefire and humanitarian aid.
Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas will participate in the summit, and leaders from Kuwait, Bahrain, South Africa, Italy, Spain, Greece, Cyprus, and the European Union have also expressed their intention to attend.
The United Kingdom will be represented by Foreign Secretary James Cleverly, with no plans to send a U.S. cabinet-level official. It was unclear on Friday night whether the participating parties would agree on a joint statement.
President Biden thanked Qatar and Israel for the release of the two American hostages.
As of now, approximately 200 hostages remain in Hamas captivity.
In all the hustle and bustle, it’s worth remembering that “Hamas had kept forgotten Israeli hostages in Gaza for years.”
Read More: The forgotten Israeli hostages kept by Hamas in Gaza for years