Former hostage Judith Raanan urges Trump to prioritize hostages' return

Former Hamas hostage Judith Raanan met with President-elect Donald Trump on Tuesday, urging him to prioritize efforts to bring home the 100 remaining hostages still held in Gaza.

Raanan, who was the first hostage released by Hamas in October 2023, shared details of her harrowing experience in captivity. She expressed confidence in Trump’s leadership and implored him to take decisive action to reunite families with their loved ones, both living and deceased.

Judith Raanan and her daughter Natalie, both Israeli-American citizens, were kidnapped during Hamas’s attack on Nahal Oz on October 7. They were released on October 20, marking a rare moment of relief amid the ongoing crisis.

“The work has only begun,” Raanan said. “We must bring everyone home immediately.”

Raanan’s plea adds urgency to international calls for the safe return of the hostages. Her meeting with Trump underscores the personal and diplomatic stakes involved as efforts to address the crisis continue.

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