An Illinois Jewish community gathered on Friday in the Chicago suburb of Evanston—where the two American hostages released by the terrorist group Hamas are from—expressing relief and praying for peace.
Judith Tai Raanan, 59, and her daughter Natalie, 17, were handed over to Israeli forces at the Gaza Strip border on Friday, becoming the first captives whose release by Hamas has been confirmed by both sides since the surprise attack on Israel occurred on Oct. 7 by the terrorist group.