A family member of the Evanston mother and teenage daughter who have been missing in Israel after the deadly Hamas attack said the Israeli government has confirmed they are among the hostages taken by the group, but both women are believed to be alive.
Judith Raanan of Evanston and her daughter, Natalie Raanan, were visiting relatives at Nahal Oz near the Gaza border, but both have been missing since the kibbutz was raided by Hamas during the recent attack on Israel, which has plunged the region into a bloody war.
Natalie’s uncle, Avi Zamir, said while Israeli government officials have confirmed that Natalie and Judith are both hostages, but they do not know whether they are together.
“We hope they are together,” he said. “We pray that they return home.”
The uncle added that he attended a Zoom meeting on Friday with President Joe Biden, who was addressing the families of Americans who remain unaccounted for in Israel.
The president “reassured us his commitment to rescue of the hostages,” Zamir said.
Biden posted about the meeting on the social media site X, which was formerly known as Twitter.
“This morning, I spoke with family members of Americans who are still unaccounted for following the terrorist attack in Israel,” he said. “I assured them of my personal commitment to do everything possible to return them to their families. We won’t stop until they’re home.”
Family members and loved ones held a vigil in Evanston on Thursday to pray for the return of the mother and daughter, who were last heard from during the Oct. 7 attack.
“I pray for them to come back alive,” said Natalie’s aunt, Sigal Zamir, of Highland Park, wiping tears from her eyes. “Because they are innocent and loving, and they didn’t do anything.”
She added that she also prayed “for the state of Israel too, to have peace, and that the war will end.”
The mother and daughter had traveled to Israel to celebrate the 85th birthday of Judith’s mother — Natalie’s grandmother — who lives there; they were also celebrating the Simhat Torah Jewish holiday, which marks the conclusion of the annual reading of the Torah.
Avi Zamir said he and his wife last had contact with Natalie early on the day of the attack, when the teen assured him that she and her mother were safe. Although the room where Judith was staying had been bombed, Natalie said they had moved quickly to a shelter, Avi Zamir recalled.
A few hours later, the Zamirs heard from Judith’s mother, who had been rescued following the raid and had assumed Judith and Natalie had been taken to safety as well.
“We found out shortly after that that was not the case,” Avi Zamir said, adding that the family has been in touch with the U.S. secretary of state’s office, the FBI and local leaders in their search for the two missing women.
After the attack, Israel formally declared war on Hamas, launching airstrikes in the blockaded area of Gaza, where more than 1,500 Palestinians have been killed so far, according to Gaza’s health ministry.
Israel has said it will not relent until Hamas releases the roughly 100-150 people believed to have been taken hostage following its unprecedented attack last week, which hit Israel by land, sea and air. The Israeli death toll has reached 1,300, according to reports by Israel’s defense minister.
The White House on Thursday confirmed that 27 Americans have been killed in the Israel-Hamas war. Biden in an address Tuesday noted that U.S. citizens have been taken hostage, though national security leaders have said they don’t know exactly how many have been captured.
“But right now we think the number that we know are — or we believe are held hostage is very small — very small — like less than a handful,” said John Kirby, spokesperson for the National Security Council, during a press briefing on Wednesday. “But that could change over time.”
As for the Raanan family, roughly three dozen friends and family members attended the local prayer vigil, which was held in the home of congregants of Chabad of Evanston, where Judith was also a longtime attendee.
Rabbi Meir Hecht said Judith had been talking about her overseas trip for weeks and was overjoyed to return to Israel, her birthplace.
His wife, Yehudis Hecht, showed everyone at the vigil a gift Judith had given her young daughter just before leaving for Israel: A prayer book with a pink cover, because Judith knew the little girl loved that color.
“Our dear Judith. Our dear Natalie. Our dear brothers and sisters in Israel,” Yehudis Hecht said. “There are no words to describe our pain, heartache, grief, sorrow and shock. The tormenting thoughts as the disturbing images run through our mind. Where is Judith? Where is Natalie? The horrors of the barbaric terrorism that took place haunt us.”
Judith’s sister, Sarai Cohen, thanked everyone at the vigil for their prayers via a video message from Israel.
“We’re touched by the Jewish community, friends and family members gathered here today,” she said. “Please pray with us for their safe return home.”
Evanston Mayor Dan Biss said in a statement that folks in his community “have joined people across the world in feeling horror and anguish at Hamas’ brutal terror attack against Israel and the unthinkable loss of human life it precipitated.”
“We are particularly heartbroken to learn that two Evanston women who were visiting family in Israel are missing,” the statement said. “We extend our hearts to them, their loved ones and all those affected by the unfolding tragedies.
Several local officials attended the vigil, including state Sen. Laura Fine, D-Glenview, who described the Hamas attack as “an evil we can’t wrap our heads around.”
“It is a nightmare that we cannot wake up from,” she said. “But the Jewish people have resolve. … We need to hold strong.”
Toward the end of the gathering, Avi Zamir led participants in reading from Psalm 122.
“Pray for the well-being of Jerusalem; may those who love you rest in serenity,” he recited, in Hebrew. “May there be well-being within your ramparts, peace in your palaces. For the sake of my kin and friends, let me speak of peace in your midst.”
He described Natalie as “a sweetheart” who loves animals, fashion, traveling and her friends. The recent Deerfield High School graduate planned to go to college but first wanted to take some time off to travel and be with extended family, Avi Zamir said.
Prior to her trip to Israel, Natalie had visited Italy and the Zamirs enjoyed seeing all the beautiful photos from those travels.
“We pray for her,” he said. “We hope she is together with her mom; we’re not certain of that.”
At one point, he spoke directly to the missing mother and daughter, in the hopes that they’re safe and will receive his message.
“Judith, Natalie — keep your faith,” he said. “Keep strong. We love you here. We will rejoin in the same group to welcome you back, when the day comes.”
The Associated Press contributed.
