Denver man's sister Natalie Raanan, stepmother Judith Raanan are the hostages released Friday in Israel-Hamas war
The war in Israel and Gaza has hit too close to home for Ben Raanan, a theater artistic director in Denver. His sister and stepmother -- 17-year-old Natalie Shoshana Raanan and her mother Judith Tai Raanan -- were taken as hostages. Early Friday afternoon the Israeli prime minister's office confirmed they have been released by Hamas.
A few hours later the government of Israel released a photo showing the two women being escorted away from captivity and surrounded by soldiers.
The two women, who live in Chicago, were visiting with family in Israel when Hamas stormed into a kibbutz where they were staying.
"They were in Israel for the holidays and to celebrate a birthday, and they were at a kibbutz in Israel."
On Oct. 7, Hamas attacked Israel. The mother and daughter were missing when soldiers went into the home where they were staying.
Ben said on Thursday that the first word of trouble came in a message, "my father received a text from Natalie in Hebrew stating that she heard gunshots and explosions outside."
It was the beginning of an attack that has left thousands of Israelis and Palestinians dead and Israel's military accused Hamas of taking over 200 people hostage.
"When IDF (Israeli defense, forces) went and searched the house, they found it empty, and there was glass broken from one of the windows, which means someone had broken in."
Natalie and Judith's family received their grim news from a neighbor, who had watched out of the corner of his window as Natalie and Judith were taken out of the house and into a vehicle by Hamas at gunpoint.
In Israel and other countries, it there have been emotional demonstrations calling for the hostages to be released. The streets of the Arab world have been filled with anger against Israel.
In Denver, Ben said they're only interested in getting their loved ones back.
"We are a peaceful family who believes in the sanctity of life for Israelis, Palestinians, for every civilian that did not ask to be a part of this," he said.
President Joe Biden personally contacted members of the family, offering words of comfort.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken told reporters, "I can't speak to the condition of the two hostages who were just released, first out of respect for their privacy, second because we haven't had a chance yet, perhaps it's happening as we speak, to get our own team in there to see them." Most importantly, Blinken added, is the reunification with their family.
Ben Raanan noted, "Natalie and Judith are not political people. They are not soldiers; they are not politicians. They are artists and lovers of humanity. They are very peaceful."
There is a tree at Orchard and University in the Denver area filled with posters of the hostages being held in Gaza. With the release of the two with family ties to Denver, it is hoped there are more to come.
