Two American hostages, a Mother and daughter, have been released after negotiations through Qatar, with Hamas, the terrorist group. This quote has been on my mind a lot the last two years:

“Hard times create strong men. Strong men create good times. Good times create weak men. And, weak men create hard times.”

― G. Michael Hopf, Those Who Remain

The release of the hostages was especially good news. I felt so helpless after watching Joe Biden’s derp droppings last night. While announcing the news about the Mother and daughter, Hamas kept up a constant pounding of Israel.

Here is how Sky News announced the released:

Here is what we know about the Mother-daughter hostages from the Chicago Sun-Times:

The family of Natalie Raanan, 17, and her mother, Judith Raanan, 59, spoke Friday morning with President Joe Biden and U.S. State Department officials who confirmed the news, said Avi Zamir, the husband of Natalie Raanan’s aunt.

Natalie and Judith Raanan have been missing since Saturday after a surprise deadly attack by Hamas near the border of Gaza. Zamir, said he and his wife, Sigal Zamir, last spoke with Natalie after the bombs started falling.

-snip

The two were in Israel to visit Judith’s mom and Natalie’s grandma to celebrate her 85th birthday and Simchat Torah, the Jewish holiday marking the conclusion of the annual cycle of Torah readings. They were staying in Nahal Oz, a kibbutz near the Gaza border.

Judith and Natalie Raanan were taken to a different house. That was the last time the Zamirs heard from their niece. They later were in touch with Judith’s mom, who was rescued by the Israeli military, Zamir said.

This is what we know about the release from MarketWatch:

ASSOCIATED PRESS
JERUSALEM — Hamas said Friday it was releasing two American citizens they were holding captive in Gaza since their Oct. 7 raid on Israel.

The Palestinian militant group said in a statement that in an agreement with the Qatari government it was freeing a mother and daughter for humanitarian reasons.

U.S. and Israeli officials did not immediately comment on the statement.

Israel says Hamas has taken 203 people from Israel into Gaza.

The Israeli Defense Forces said Friday, according to CNN and others, that the majority of the hostages taken from Israel to Gaza remain alive.

Abu Obaida doesn’t sound quite as gracious:

BREAKING 2 Hostages released.

⭕️ Abu Obaida, the spokesperson for the Al-Qassam Brigades:

In response to Qatari efforts, Al-Qassam Brigades released two American citizens (a mother and her daughter) for humanitarian reasons, and to prove to the American people and the…

— Midwest girl (@Maga4Justice) October 20, 2023

I guess asking a terrorist to be a little gracious is asking too much. According to multiple reports the women are now in Egypt.

Biden takes no questions and is off to the beach tonight.

Biden takes no questions as his handlers force the press out of the room.

Later today, Biden is heading to the beach.

What do you think about this?#KatherineClark #KevinMcCarthy #President #JoeBiden #Trump #DonaldTrump #America #Ukraine #Japan #Canada #GOP #VOTE #Democrats pic.twitter.com/8kb10yuX4P

— Place Not War! (@NFLLive14) October 20, 2023

Just the look of going to the beach makes me physically ill.

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