More than three weeks after she was taken hostage by Hamas operatives, 18-year-old Natalie Raanan is finally sleeping in her own bed.
The Evanston teen was taken hostage from the Nahal Oz kibbutz in southern Israel Oct. 7 along with her mother Judith Raanan, 59. The mother and daughter were released into Red Cross custody, then into Israel, on Oct. 20.
Yinam Cohen, consul general of Israel to the Midwest, said Monday evening that Natalie had just arrived in Chicago. Judith is still in Israel, he told the Tribune.
“I am relieved to see Natalie back home in Chicago,” Cohen said in a statement Monday night. “Her family members have been anxiously waiting for her return, and today I am sharing their happiness.”
[ Evanston teen held hostage after Hamas attack in Israel returns to Chicago, Israeli consulate says ]
Cohen declined to comment on Natalie’s condition, saying the family has requested privacy in the coming days.
Cohen also declined to comment on the logistics of Natalie’s return and what her plans are for her first few days home.
Uri Raanan, Natalie’s father and Judith’s ex-husband, lives in Bannockburn with his wife and stepdaughter. Uri had said that when Natalie returned to the Chicago area, the family would hold a belated celebration at his home for Natalie’s 18th birthday.
Natalie spent 10 days in Israel recuperating after her release from Hamas on Oct. 20. When she turned 18 on Oct. 24, Israeli friends and family shared a birthday cake frosted with elaborate pink flowers and gold nonpareils.
Hamas is a terrorist organization, currently controlling the Gaza strip. Natalie told family in Israel that she was not harmed physically by Hamas operatives, retaining access to food, water, fresh clothes and a shower, a family friend told the Tribune.
Natalie’s last visit to Israel was four years ago. This trip, she planned to celebrate the Jewish holiday of Simhat Torah, as well as her grandmother Tamar’s 85th birthday.
The Raanan family has been in touch with at least one other family of a hostage, Uri told reporters Oct. 20, speaking often with an American woman whose grandson is still being held captive.
“We’ve been talking a couple times and we’ve been praying for their return,” Uri Raanan said.
[ Former Hamas hostages Natalie and Judith Raanan to return to Chicago: What we know ]
Natalie graduated from Deerfield High School in the spring and arrived in Israel earlier in October after a trip to Italy. She had planned to spend several months traveling in Israel, also visiting Egypt, before studying fashion design, interior decorating or tattooing.
In a statement last week, Deerfield High School Principal Kathryn Anderson shared wishes for Natalie and Judith’s safe passage back to the Chicago area.
“The entire District 113 community are thrilled with the news that DHS graduate Natalie Raanan and her mother have been released,” Anderson said.
Uri Raanan has raised more than $10,000 toward Natalie and Judith’s recovery. Chabad of Evanston started a second fundraising campaign in anticipation of Natalie’s homecoming. Community members have contributed more than $12,000 so far.
“So many people lovingly reached out, asking how they can participate in welcoming Judith & Natalie home; and supporting their material and emotional needs as they transition home,” Chabad staff wrote on Facebook.
While Natalie’s arrival is an occasion for joy, Cohen stressed that this is still a time of mourning for the consulate, and that community advocacy efforts for other hostages continue.
“While we’re celebrating their coming home, we still remember the 239 hostages that are still held by Hamas in the Gaza strip away from their families,” Cohen told the Tribune on Tuesday.
The consulate continues to demand the immediate release of all hostages held by Hamas, Cohen said. Those still held in Gaza represent more than 25 countries, including Argentina, Germany, France, Russia and Thailand.
“Many of them have lost their family members during the terrorist attack, among them more than 30 children,” Cohen said. “This is a very pressing humanitarian issue.”
The Raanans are the only American hostages to have been released by Hamas from Gaza. Since Oct. 20, Hamas operatives have released two Israeli women, and confirmed the identity of three more hostages featured in a propaganda video.
Israeli Defense Forces announced early this week that they had extracted hostage Ori Megidish, 19 — an IDF private — during a ground operation in the Gaza strip.
The Israeli minister of foreign affairs also confirmed the death of 22-year-old hostage Shani Louk on Monday with a post on X, formerly Twitter. Louk, a German and Israeli dual citizen, was kidnapped by Hamas from the Tribe of Nova music festival in southern Israel on Oct. 7.
Three family members of Hamas hostages will travel to Chicago this week to meet with community members as they continue to advocate for their loved ones. The relatives will attend a vigil Wednesday at Anshe Emet Synagogue in Chicago, and a second vigil Thursday at North Suburban Synagogue Beth El in Highland Park.
The Associated Press contributed.
