Two American hostages taken during a deadly attack on Israel earlier this month have been freed by Hamas in Palestine. At the time of their abduction, the prisoners—Judith and Natalie Raanan, a mother-daughter duo from Chicago—were living at Kibbutz Nahal Oz in southern Israel.
Brigadier General Gal Hirsch and Israel Defense Forces (IDF) representatives verified the hostages’ release at the Palestinian enclave’s border on Friday night. The Raanans were then taken to a military installation in central Israel, where their worried relatives were waiting to receive them.
This liberation takes place in the face of mounting pressure on Israel to delay an intended incursion into the Gaza Strip in order to facilitate diplomatic talks. It also represents the first time that, in the course of the continuing battle, Hamas has released hostages.
The captives’ release is seen as a major step towards possible peace negotiations. How this discovery may affect the continuing conflict and diplomatic efforts in the region is yet unknown.