The American mother-and-daughter hostages who were released by Hamas on Friday “kept each other safe” during the two weeks they were held captive by the terror organization in Gaza, according to their family.
Judith Raanan, 59, and her 17-year-old daughter, Natalie, relied on each other to make it through the horrific two weeks after Hamas captured them on Oct. 7, their cousins, Ayelet and Or Sella told ABC’s “Good Morning America” on Monday.
The Israeli Americans are “physically healthy right now” after they “kept each other safe,” the cousins said.
“We can’t even image what they’ve been through these last two weeks,” Or said. “It’s going to take some time to sink in for them.”
The Chicago-area mother and daughter were seen tightly hugging their relatives, including Judith’s sister Saray Cohen and mother, Tamar Leviatan, in images shared online of the family’s emotional reunion with their loved ones in Israel.
Judith and Natalie were the first of over 210 hostages held by Hamas to be freed. The government of Qatar helped broker the deal for their release, according to reports.
“I feel so lucky but also a little guilty,” Ayelet said. “There are so many others, we don’t know why them.”
The mother-daughter duo had traveled to Israel from their home in Evanston, Illinois, to celebrate Judith’s mother’s 85th birthday and to mark the Jewish holiday season with family when they were taken hostage.
While the family has rejoiced over Judith and Natalie’s return, they are far from celebrating. Eight of their relatives are still being held hostage by Hamas and three other family members were killed in the surprise attack.
Ayelet and Or, who are siblings, are calling on the Israeli government to secure the release of the remaining hostages before launching its highly anticipated ground invasion into Gaza.
“We hope that they are alive. We hope that they are not injured,” Or told the outlet. “And we hope and urge anyone that has any influence to do everything they can to bring them back as soon as possible.”
“We don’t have the privilege to be happy or to celebrate. We don’t have the privilege to mourn,” Ayelet added. “We cannot rest. Getting Judith and Natalie back, it is not the end. It is the beginning.”
Over the weekend, the Israel Defense Forces seemed to indicate its ground invasion was imminent, announcing that it would “deepen our attacks to minimize the dangers to our forces in the next stages of the war.”
“We don’t have the privilege to be happy or to celebrate. We don’t have the privilege to mourn,” Ayelet added. “We cannot rest. Getting Judith and Natalie back, it is not the end. It is the beginning.”
US and Israeli officials have reportedly asked Judith and Natalie for details about their circumstances following their abduction in hopes that it could provide insight into where the remaining hostages are being held.
Hours after their release, the mother and daughter also spoke with President Biden and expressed their eagerness to help “bring everyone back,” according to Or.
“They are so brave and so strong,” Or said.
Ayelet added, “They are handling this better than I would expect.”
Advertisement