How Qatar facilitated release of 2 US hostages taken by Hamas

Two American hostages freed by Hamas late Friday (20 October) have been identified as residents of the United States’ Chicago area. The mother-daughter duo were among about 200 people taken by the Palestinian militant group to Gaza after the 7 October rampage into Israel. Hamas said that it set free the hostages “for humanitarian reasons” after mediation efforts by Qatar. Later, Israel confirmed the release of the two American nationals. Who are these first hostages freed by Hamas after their surprise attack on Israel two weeks back? What was Qatar’s role in their release? We explain. Hamas frees two US hostages Judith Tai Raanan, 59, and her 17-year-old daughter Natalie were taken by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) to the Israeli border with Gaza after it received the duo from Hamas. The organisation said in a statement that it “helped facilitate this release by transporting the hostages from Gaza to Israel, underscoring the real-life impact of our role as a neutral actor between the warring parties,” reported Al Jazeera. According to Israel Defense Forces (IDF) spokesperson Daniel Hagari, the duo was greeted at the border by Israeli Brigadier General Gal Hirsch, the Israeli military’s chief hostage negotiator. They were then taken to a military base deeper into the West Asian country, where they met their “worried relatives”, reported NBC News citing the IDF spokesperon. [caption id=“attachment_13280132” align=“alignnone” width=“640”] Judith Raanan, right, and her 17-year-old daughter Natalie are escorted by Israeli soldiers and Gal Hirsch. AP[/caption] As per BBC, Abu Ubaida, a spokesman of Hamas’s armed wing – the Ezzedeen al-Qassam Brigades, said the mother and daughter were released “for humanitarian reasons, and to prove to the American people and the world that the claims made by (US president Joe) Biden and his fascist administration are false and baseless”. Who are the mother-daughter duo? Judith Raanan, who often goes by her Hebrew name, Yehudit, was born in Israel. She worked as an aesthetician and life coach in the US, reported Chicago Tribune. According to a New York Times (NYT) report, Judith is a devoted Jewish, a “skilled cook” of Israeli food and an artist. She had recently worked as a home aide for elderly people, the report added. The 59-year-old and her teenage daughter, Natalie, are residents of Evanston, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago, reported BBC. Natalie recently graduated from high school. According to Reuters, her half-brother, Ben Raanan, told the Denver Post that Natalie was considering whether to work in the fashion industry, as an interior designer or train as a tattoo artist. Speaking to BBC, Ben said he felt an “overwhelming sense of gratitude to the large community of people around the world who have put my sister at the forefront of their thoughts, of their prayers, of all religions and all beliefs”. ALSO READ: Hamas hostages: Who are they? How can they be brought back? How did Hamas kidnap them? As per the family members, the mother and daughter were visiting Kibbutz Nahal Oz in southern Israel when they were abducted by Hamas militants during their 7 October surprise attack on the West Asian country. The pair were at the kibbutz to celebrate Natalie’s graduation and the 85th birthday of her grandmother, Tamar Ranaan, reported BBC. Natalie Raanan’s aunt previously told NBC News that the mother and daughter were staying at a guest house when Hamas attacked. However, they were found by the militants in the secure room that they had escaped to from the guest house. Reactions to their release Uri Raanan, Natalie’s father and Judith’s ex-husband, said on Friday night from Bannockburn, Illinois, that he expects his daughter would be home before her birthday next week, reported NBC News. “We’re going to celebrate her birthday in my home,” he was quoted as saying by CNN. Speaking to Associated Press, Uri said he had spoken to Natalie on Friday and “she’s doing very good”. “I’m in tears, and I feel very, very good,” he added. He told the Boston Herald that Friday was the “best day” he had ever after the “worst two weeks” of his life. The father also spoke by phone to both the Illinois governor and US president Biden following the release. Illinois governor JB Pritzker said in a statement: “I cannot wait to welcome them back home after demonstrating immense strength and bravery in the face of unthinkable terror.” Taking to X, Biden posted he was “overjoyed” after the release of the Americans. “Today, we have secured the release of two Americans taken hostage by Hamas during the horrific terrorist assault against Israel on 7 October,” Biden said in a statement. “Our fellow citizens have endured a terrible ordeal these past 14 days, and I am overjoyed that they will soon be reunited with their family, who has been wracked with fear.”

I just spoke with the two Americans released today after being held hostage by Hamas. I let them know that their government will fully support them as they recover and heal.
 
Jill and I will continue holding close in our hearts all the families of unaccounted for Americans. pic.twitter.com/oXk6gfrD8M

— President Biden Archived (@POTUS46Archive) October 20, 2023

The US president also thanked Qatar and the Israeli government “for their partnership in this work.” He also vowed not to stop till the US secures the release of other Americans held hostage by Hamas, reported AFP. 

.@POTUS spoke this evening with the two American citizens who had been held hostage by Hamas. We are so grateful that they are safe.
We will continue to do everything we can to unite all hostages with their loved ones. pic.twitter.com/rp1YDtB8Zu

— U.S. Embassy Jerusalem (@usembassyjlm) October 20, 2023

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Qatar’s role As per a Reuters report, American and British officials have been working with Qatar to secure the release of hostages, including their own nationals, held in Gaza. Citizens of Thailand, Argentina, Germany, France and Portugal are also being held captive across the narrow enclave. A spokesperson for Qatar’s foreign ministry said the US hostages were freed after “many days of continuous communication with all parties”, reported Al Jazeera. “We will continue our dialogue with both the Israelis and Hamas, and we hope these efforts will lead to the release of all civilian hostages from every nationality,” the statement by the ministry added. The Gulf nation, which hosts several Hamas political leaders as well as a political office of the Palestinian group, has earlier played the role of a mediator between the group and Israel. With inputs from agencies