Israel-Palestine War Enters 14th Day - Two American Hostages Freed, Bombardment On Gaza Continues (Image: Government of Israel)
Two Americans who were held hostage by Hamas since October 7 have been released. Judith Raanan and her daughter Natalie Raanan were kidnapped during a surprise attack by Hamas two weeks ago in southern Israel. According to the Israeli government, more than 190 people are still being held as hostages in Gaza, and they will continue to use all available means to locate those missing and bring them home.
Meanwhile, as the war on the Gaza Strip entered its fourteenth day, Israel continued its deadliest attacks, with approximately 30 people reported killed in the early morning bombardments, according to the Palestinian news agency Wafa. The news agency reported that 14 people were killed in Gaza”s southern Rafah City, and at least 14 people were also killed in Jabalia town in the north of the Gaza Strip.
They are the first hostages to be freed since fighters from the Palestinian group carried out a surprise attack on October 7, killing at least 1,400 people and taking about 200 others hostage.
The United Nations reports that 352 people were killed in the previous 24 hours bringing the death count in the Palestinian enclave to 4,137, with 70 percent of the dead being children and women.
“This evening, Judith Tai Raanan and her daughter Natalie Shoshana Raanan were released by the terrorist organization Hamas. The two were kidnapped by the organization during the murderous surprise attack on Saturday, October 7, 2023, while they were staying in Kibbutz Nahal Oz as house guests,” a statement from Israeli Prime Minister’s officers said.
“The Coordinator for the Captives and Missing Brig. Gen. (Ret.) Gal Hirsch, together with the IDF and security forces, received them at the border of the Gaza Strip, and the two are now on their way to a meeting point in an army base in central Israel, where their families are waiting to reunite with them. The Government of Israel, the IDF and the entire security apparatus will continue to do all they can, using any means available, to locate all those missing and bring home all the kidnapped,” the statement added.
Saudi calls for Palestine state
The Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia, Mohammed bin Salman (MBS), while addressing the joint summit of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) on Friday has called for the establishment of a Palestinian State along the 1967 borders.
“It pains us at the time of our meeting what Gaza is witnessing today, from escalating violence that is being paid for by innocent civilians,” he said at the meeting.
“The conditions must be created for the return of stability and the achievement of lasting peace that will ensure a just solution to establish a Palestinian state within 1967 borders in order to achieve security and prosperity for all,” he added.
