By Alyssa Guzman | New York Post
Natalie Raanan, the American teen who was kidnapped by Hamas during the terror group’s shocking attack on Israel and held captive for two weeks before being released, has finally returned home.
The 18-year-old was released by the terrorist organization 10 days ago, alongside her mother Judith Raanan, 59, just four days before her birthday, according to ABC 7.
She arrived home in Chicago Monday night, according to Yinam Cohen, the Consul General of Israel to the Midwest, who announced the happy news on X.
“I am relieved that Natalie Raanan is back home in Chicago. Her family members have been anxiously waiting for her return, and today I am sharing their happiness,” he wrote.
The Raanans, who live in the Chicago suburb of Evanston, Ill., were held hostage for 13 days before being released by Hamas due to Judith’s declining health and helped out of Gaza by the Red Cross.
The mother-daughter duo were seen embracing family members in Israel after being released.
Uri Raanan, Natalie’s father, told The Post at the time that his daughter was “emotional” but “very happy to be in Israel.”
The Raanan are said to have “kept each other safe” during their captivity.
They had traveled to Israel to celebrate the 85th birthday of Judith’s mother and celebrate the Jewish holiday season with family, according to the Chicago Sun-Times.
More than 230 hostages are still under the control of Hamas terrorists in Gaza after the invasion on Oct. 7, something Cohen wrote about in his statement welcoming Raanan back to the States.
“While we’re celebrating Natalie’s return, we remember the 239 hostages, among them babies, children, women, and the elderly, who are still held by Hamas in Gaza,” he said.
He also announced that families who have captured relatives will speak in Chicago to share their stories.
Two elderly Israelis were also released by Hamas. Yocheved Lifshitz, 85, and Nurit Yitzhak were released last week. Their husbands remain in captivity.
The terrorist organization said it released the two women for “compelling humanitarian and satisfactory reasons.”
