Biden ‘overjoyed’ by Hamas hostage release
October 20, 2023 03:57 PM
President Joe Biden reveled in the release of two American hostages taken by Hamas during the terrorist organization’s Oct. 7 attacks in Israel.
“Our fellow citizens have endured a terrible ordeal these past 14 days, and I am overjoyed that they will soon be reunited with their family, who has been wracked with fear,” Biden wrote in a statement Friday. “These individuals and their family will have the full support of the United States government as they recover and heal, and we should all respect their privacy in this moment.”
BIDEN GOES DIRECTLY TO THE PUBLIC ON ISRAEL AND UKRAINE WITH OVAL OFFICE ADDRESS
Biden described “working around-the-clock to free American citizens,” pledging that he and his administration “have not ceased our efforts to secure the release of those who are still being held.”
“I thank the government of Qatar and the government of Israel for their partnership in this work,” the president said. “Jill and I have been holding close in our hearts all the families of unaccounted for Americans.”
“As I told those families when I spoke with them last week — we will not stop until we get their loved ones home,” he added. “As president, I have no higher priority than the safety of Americans held hostage around the world.”
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Chicago’s Judith Tai Raanan and her 17-year-old daughter, Natalie Raanan, were among the approximately 200 people taken hostage by Hamas before their release to the Red Cross and then Israel Defense Forces on humanitarian grounds due to the mother’s poor health.
Biden spoke of the hostage situation during Wednesday’s prime-time Oval Office address.