Despite Reunion, Nightmares Continue for American-Israeli Family as American Hostages Remain in Gaza
The family’s emotional journey, hope, and plea for their loved ones’ safe return. Read the heart-wrenching story now.
Ayelet and Or Sella pause, their expressions reflecting the mix of emotions that has engulfed their family. They recall the poignant moment when they were finally able to embrace their cousins, Judith and Natalie Raanan, at home in Israel, a day after the American mother and teenage daughter were released by their militant captors in the neighboring Gaza Strip.
“I realized I hadn’t breathed for two weeks,” Ayelet shared during an interview with ABC News’ Matt Gutman in Tel Aviv, featured on “Good Morning America.”
Or chimed in, “I’ve never felt a hug this intense in my life.”
While the joy of reunion is evident, it’s crucial to understand that the nightmare is far from over. Even as Judith and Natalie, the American hostages, are safe, eight of their family members, including other American hostages, remain in captivity, held by the Hamas militant group in Gaza, with three other relatives tragically lost. Ayelet and Or, siblings of the released American hostages, are using their voices to implore the Israeli government to secure the release of the remaining American hostages before considering a ground invasion into Gaza.
“We hope that they are alive. We hope that they are not injured,” Or told ABC News. “And we hope and urge anyone that has any influence to do everything they can to bring back the American hostages as soon as possible.”
Their sentiments underscore a stark reality: despite the relief of bringing Judith and Natalie, the American hostages, home, there is no room for celebration. Ayelet elaborated, “We don’t have the privilege to be happy or to celebrate. We don’t have the privilege to mourn. We cannot rest. Getting Judith and Natalie, the American hostages, back, it is not the end. It is the beginning.”
Judith, aged 59, and her 17-year-old daughter Natalie, both possessing dual Israeli-American citizenship and residing in Evanston, Illinois, were in southern Israel to celebrate a relative’s birthday and partake in Jewish holidays. However, their visit took a harrowing turn on October 7 when Hamas initiated an unprecedented incursion from Gaza. The events of that day left over 1,400 individuals dead, thousands more injured, and more than 200 abducted, according to the Israel Defense Forces.
“It was unimaginable then and it still is,” Ayelet expressed. “We haven’t slept ever since, and we cry at night.”
In response to the incursion, the Israeli military enforced a total siege and blockade of Gaza, which, while aimed at Hamas, has resulted in a severe humanitarian crisis. Tragically, the toll includes over 4,385 fatalities and 13,561 injuries in Gaza since October 7, as reported by the Palestinian Ministry of Health.
Over the weekend, the Israel Defense Forces issued a statement indicating a deeper commitment to the conflict: “We will deepen our attacks to minimize the dangers to our forces in the next stages of the war,” a sign that a ground invasion may be imminent.
On October 20, Judith and Natalie, the American hostages, became the first hostages to be freed. Hamas said in a statement at the time that it released them for humanitarian reasons in an agreement brokered by the government of Qatar.
Israeli Agriculture Minister Avi Dichter, a former chief of the Shin Bet security agency, shared with ABC News that every effort would be made to secure the release of all hostages, particularly the American hostages. However, he emphasized that the “first and last priority” is destroying Hamas.
It has come to light that Israeli and U.S. officials have asked Judith and Natalie, the American hostages, for any granular details about their ordeal, like what did they see, hear, and smell, in hopes that the information could provide key intelligence about the remaining American hostages.
Ayelet and Or emphasized that their cousins, the American hostages, are “physically healthy right now” and that the pair “kept each other safe” during their captivity. However, they opted not to share further details about what Judith and Natalie, the American hostages, endured, citing fears that Hamas could take vengeance on their other family members, including the remaining American hostages.
“We can’t even imagine what they’ve been through these last two weeks,” Or added. “It’s going to take some time to sink in for them.”
The reason for Judith and Natalie, the American hostages, being the first to be freed remains unclear, leaving Ayelet with mixed emotions. She shared, “I feel so lucky but also a little guilty. There are so many others, and we don’t know why them.”
Notably, Ayelet revealed that their family had not been contacted by a representative of the Israeli government “until now.”
Soon after their release, Judith and Natalie, the American hostages, had the opportunity to speak with U.S. President Joe Biden over the phone. They expressed their eagerness to help “bring everyone back,” particularly the remaining American hostages, according to Or.
“They are so brave and so strong,” Or said.
“They are handling this better than I would expect,” Ayelet added.
Family of American hostages freed by Hamas speaks out: ‘It is not the end’ originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
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