Former hostage wants ‘peace in the world’ one year later

Judith Raanan and her teen daughter were first hostages released by Hamas
One year later, Raanan says she thinks of remaining hostages daily
'I carry them with me, each and every one of them'

Updated: Oct 7, 2024 / 05:57 PM CDT

(NewsNation) — An American mom taken hostage by Hamas during the Oct. 7 attacks in Israel says she wakes, lives and sleeps with the remaining hostages in mind, telling “Elizabeth Vargas Reports” that humankind must “somehow make peace in the world.”

Judith Raanan and her teen daughter Natalie were the first hostages released by Hamas in the weeks following the attacks.

One year later, the Chicago-area woman is steadfast in her faith and hopeful others captured that day will be released.

“They’re in my heart. I carry them with me, each and every one of them. I go to sleep with them, and I pray for them. Basically, all day long while I’m doing all the other stuff,” Raanan said. “Life will never be the same as long as they are not with us, and it is very, very important that they will be released.”

Raanan emphasized that she couldn’t imagine what the remaining hostages are going through, as her two weeks in captivity led to suicidal thoughts.

Witnessing the violence firsthand and seeing photos and videos of it in the year following, Raanan said her “soul was crying to them,” but she knows the strength of the hostages will prevail.

“They can kill our body. They can kill some of our psychology. A lot of the people will not be the same, but … the Jewish spirit, or any spirit, especially the Jewish spirit, cannot be taken away from you,” Raanan said.

“This is a sparkle from God. It belongs to God. We come and go, he stays,” she added.

She refused to place blame for the lengthy war on politicians like Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu or President Joe Biden, telling NewsNation, “It is from above. This is a war that somehow God is allowing to happen, and we need to look how to somehow make peace in the world.”

If and when hostages are released, she urges for them to be left alone as much as possible.

“They’ve been in a psychological and physically horrifying situation where they’re not allowed to say no, where they are obedient, where they’re silent,” she said. “So just put them in a nice, warm, cuddly, fluffy room and just let them be.”