Martin Fletcher, the former Tel Aviv bureau chief for NBC, opens up and shares an update about the two Americans who were recently released by Hamas who are part of his extended family. Judith Raanan and her teenage daughter, Natalie, were released from captivity on Friday, October 20, 2023.
The mother and daughter are from Evanston, Illinois. "We know they're resting," Martin shared on Today. "They're in a family member's house in Israel." Though relieved at their release, eight of their other family members are reportedly still being held hostage.
Martin went on to share that he didn't have any insight into why his two extended family members were selected to be released. "Maybe they were closest to the border and it was just simply the easiest to free them when the time came," he said.
Ayelet Sella, a cousin of the two released hostages, says they feel relief and grief at the same time. “It was everything all at once — joy, then guilt for feeling joy for just a second,” she spoke of being reunited with Judith and Natalie.
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Over 220 people were taken by Hamas, according to Israeli officials. Hostages include U.S.-Israeli dual citizens and other foreign nationals. At least 1,400 people have reportedly died in Israel, while at least 4,651 have died in Gaza.
