DENVER (KDVR) — A Denver man’s members of the family, who had been visiting Israel, are amongst these taken hostage by Hamas earlier this month.
Ben Raanan spoke with Nexstar’s KDVR and mentioned his household was on a name with President Joe Biden on Friday, confirming the kidnapping. Now they’re in shock and desperately hoping for his or her family members’ protected return dwelling.
Raanan’s 17-year-old sister, Natali Raanan, and his step-mother, Judith Tai Raanan, each from Evanston, Illinois, had been visiting family and celebrating vacation in Israel in Nahal Oz, close to Gaza, when the assaults started earlier this month.
In accordance with Raanan, the final time the household heard from Natalie, she had despatched a textual content about listening to bombs and gunfire. She mentioned she was going to barricade herself in the home and attempt to keep quiet.
The Israeli authorities contacted Judith’s sister in Israel and Natalie’s dad in Illinois to substantiate each had been taken hostage by Hamas, the household’s rabbi informed Nexstar’s WGN. A neighbor reported seeing mom and daughter being led from the home they had been in by Hamas militants.
“We don’t know what [Natalie’s] present state is,” Raanan informed KDVR, including that they’ve acquired “no proof of life from Hamas.”
Hamas and different militants in Gaza have mentioned over 130 troopers and civilians captured from inside Israel had been being held.
Natalie just lately graduated from Deerfield Excessive Faculty in Illinois. The varsity principal launched the next assertion:
“It’s with nice disappointment that I share we’ve acquired phrase that DHS alumna, Natalie Raanan (Class of 2023), who was visiting household in Israel, has been reported lacking,” Deerfield Excessive Faculty Principal Dr. Kathryn Anderson mentioned. “Her household fears that she has been taken hostage by Hamas. Sadly, we’ve no further data right now. We maintain Natalie and her household in our hearts, together with all of the harmless lives misplaced, wounded and impacted by the terrorist assault.”
Dozens gathered in Evanston on Saturday to demand the discharge of Natalie, Judith, and others taken hostage by Hamas.
Nationwide Safety Council spokesperson John Kirby mentioned this week that the variety of People believed to be held as hostages is “very small,” underscoring that 14 People are unaccounted for. As of Thursday, 27 People had been confirmed useless.
When requested Sunday about the opportunity of U.S. forces being on the bottom in Israel, Kirby mentioned, “What I gained’t do is rule something in or out in relation to getting our hostages dwelling.”
The Related Press, in addition to WGN’s Peter Curi and Jenna Barnes, contributed to this report.
