President Biden said Friday that the U.S. has secured the release of two Americans taken hostage by Hamas during its terrorist attack against Israel on Oct. 7.
“Our fellow citizens have endured a terrible ordeal these past 14 days, and I am overjoyed that they will soon be reunited with their family, who has been wracked with fear,” the president said in a statement.
“These individuals and their family will have the full support of the United States government as they recover and heal, and we should all respect their privacy in this moment.”
Biden said Qatar and Israel secured the release of the Americans. While he did not name them, the Israeli government confirmed them as Judith Raanan and her daughter, 18-year-old Natalie Raanan.
There are 10 Americans who remain unaccounted for after Hamas’s initial attack, while the terror group is believed to be holding 200 people hostage.
Biden said U.S. officials “have been working around-the-clock to free American citizens who were taken hostage by Hamas, and we have not ceased our efforts to secure the release of those who are still being held.”
“Jill and I have been holding close in our hearts all the families of unaccounted for Americans. And, as I told those families when I spoke with them last week—we will not stop until we get their loved ones home. As president, I have no higher priority than the safety of Americans held hostage around the world.”
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Israel had previously said that the hostages were in its custody.
“The person in charge of the abductees and the missing, Brigadier General Gal Hirsch, together with the IDF [Israel Defense Forces] and the security forces, received them at the border of the Gaza Strip and at this moment they are on their way to a meeting point at a military base in the center of the country, where their family members are waiting for them,” a spokesperson for the office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a statement.
“The Government of Israel, the IDF and the entire security establishment will continue to operate with the best of their abilities and efforts in order to locate all of the missing and return all of the abductees home,” according to the statement.
The mother and daughter’s release comes as aid trucks bound for Gaza are loitering on the Egyptian side of the Strip.
Biden spoke with Netanyahu in a phone call on Friday, where they discussed ongoing efforts to release hostages taken by Hamas, according to a readout of the call provided by the White House.
He also spoke with Netanyahu about “plans to begin moving humanitarian assistance into Gaza from Egypt” and to allow U.S. citizens in Gaza and other civilians to exit the enclave.
“The President reaffirmed the United States’ support for Israel’s right to defend itself and obligation to protect its citizens, while underscoring the importance of operating consistent with the law of war to include the protection of civilians in Gaza caught in the conflict launched by Hamas,” the White House said.
Netanyahu had previously said that no aid can enter Gaza until Hamas releases hostages, though Biden had said he had secured a commitment from both Israel and Egypt to allow aid to begin flowing.
Biden said Friday that at least 20 aid trucks are expected to cross Gaza’s border with Egypt in the next 24-48 hours.
“I believe you will see … I got a commitment from the Israelis and the president of Egypt that the crossing will be open,” he said in remarks from the Oval Office.
Rabbi Meir Hecht told ABC-7 Chicago earlier this week that Judith and her daughter Natalie, who turned 18 over the past week, had traveled to Israel for a relative’s 85th birthday and to celebrate the Jewish holiday season.
Ben Raanan told ABC-7 that after losing contact with his mother and sister in the wake of Hamas’s attack on Israel on Oct. 7, Biden had reached out and spoke with the family at length.
Israel said that Hamas is holding at least 203 hostages in the Gaza Strip who were kidnapped while the terrorist organization carried out its initial attack that combined a mass of rocket barrages with a ground infiltration and massacre, with an estimated 1,400 people killed.
The Biden administration has said that more than a dozen Americans remain unaccounted for but has not confirmed that they are being held hostage by Hamas.
American families in Israel have spoken out, saying they believe their loved ones are being held by the terrorist organization.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Friday called for the immediate and unconditional release of all Hamas’s hostages, speaking from the podium of the State Department.
He said he couldn’t speak to the condition of the two Americans released out of respect for their privacy and because U.S. officials were working to make contact with them, to evaluate them and to reunite them with their loved ones.
Blinken said he did not have further information on the condition of Americans who continue to be held by Hamas and couldn’t speak to the details of the ongoing efforts to secure their release.
“And all I can say with regard to Qatar is, in this instance, we very much appreciate their assistance,” he said.
Hamas has released videos of hostages, including of an Israeli woman named Mia Schem, who said her hand was injured in Hamas’s initial attack and underwent surgery in the Gaza Strip, demonstrating that the terrorist group was taking care of her even as she asked to be released back to her family.
Hamas has said it seeks to use hostages as bargaining chips to secure the release of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails, and it has said that it is treating the hostages as “esteemed guests.”
—Updated at 4:31 p.m.
President Biden said Friday that the U.S. has secured the release of two Americans taken hostage by Hamas during its terrorist attack against Israel on Oct. 7. “Our fellow citizens have endured a terrible ordeal these past 14 days, and I am overjoyed that they will soon be reunited with their family, who has been…
President Donald Trump says the United States might one day get rid of federal income tax because of money the government collects from tariffs on imported goods. Tariffs are extra taxes the U.S. puts on products that come from other countries.
Trump has said that tariff money could become so large that it might allow the government to cut income taxes “almost completely.” He has also talked about possibly phasing out income tax over the next few years if tariff money keeps going up.
Right now, the federal government gets much more money from income taxes than from tariffs. Income taxes bring in trillions of dollars each year, while tariffs bring in only a small part of that total. Because of this gap, experts say tariffs would need to grow by many times to replace income tax money.
Many economists and tax experts doubt that tariffs alone could pay for the whole federal budget. They warn that very high tariffs could make many imported goods more expensive for shoppers in the United States. This could hit lower- and middle‑income families hardest, because they spend a big share of their money on everyday items.
The president can change some tariffs, but only Congress can change or end the federal income tax. That means any real plan to remove income tax would need new laws passed by both the House of Representatives and the Senate. So far, there is no detailed law or full budget plan on this idea.
For now, Trump’s comments are a proposal, not a change in the law. People and businesses still have to pay federal income tax under the current rules. The debate over using tariffs instead of income taxes is likely to continue among lawmakers, experts, and voters.
Former President Donald Trump has signed an executive order directing federal agencies to declassify all government files related to Jeffrey Epstein, the disgraced financier whose death in 2019 continues to fuel controversy and speculation.
The order, signed Wednesday at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate, instructs the FBI, Department of Justice, and intelligence agencies to release documents detailing Epstein’s network, finances, and alleged connections to high-profile figures. Trump described the move as “a step toward transparency and public trust,” promising that no names would be shielded from scrutiny.
“This information belongs to the American people,” Trump said in a televised statement. “For too long, powerful interests have tried to bury the truth. That ends now.”
U.S. intelligence officials confirmed that preparations for the release are already underway. According to sources familiar with the process, the first batch of documents is expected to be made public within the next 30 days, with additional releases scheduled over several months.
Reactions poured in across the political spectrum. Supporters praised the decision as a bold act of accountability, while critics alleged it was politically motivated, timed to draw attention during a volatile election season. Civil rights advocates, meanwhile, emphasized caution, warning that some records could expose private victims or ongoing legal matters.
The Epstein case, which implicated figures in politics, business, and entertainment, remains one of the most talked-about scandals of the past decade. Epstein’s connections to influential individuals—including politicians, royals, and executives—have long sparked speculation about the extent of his operations and who may have been involved.
Former federal prosecutor Lauren Fields said the release could mark a turning point in public discourse surrounding government transparency. “Regardless of political stance, this declassification has the potential to reshape how Americans view power and accountability,” Fields noted.
Officials say redactions may still occur to protect sensitive intelligence or personal information, but the intent is a near-complete disclosure. For years, critics of the government’s handling of Epstein’s case have accused agencies of concealing evidence or shielding elites from exposure. Trump’s order promises to change that narrative.
As anticipation builds, journalists, legal analysts, and online commentators are preparing for what could be one of the most consequential information releases in recent history.
On Friday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed the United Nations General Assembly in New York City, defending Israel’s ongoing military operations in Gaza. As he spoke, more than 100 delegates from over 50 countries stood up and left the chamber—a rare and significant diplomatic walkout. Outside the UN, thousands of protesters gathered to voice opposition to Netanyahu’s policies and call for accountability, including some who labeled him a war criminal. The protest included activists from Palestinian and Jewish groups, along with international allies.
The walkouts and protests were a response to Israel’s continued offensive in Gaza, which has resulted in widespread destruction and a significant humanitarian crisis. Many countries and individuals have accused Israel of excessive use of force, and some international prosecutors have suggested Netanyahu should face investigation by the International Criminal Court for war crimes, including claims that starvation was used as a weapon against civilians. At the same time, a record number of nations—over 150—recently recognized the State of Palestine, leaving the United States as the only permanent UN Security Council member not to join them.
The diplomatic walkouts and street protests demonstrate increasing global concern over the situation in Gaza and growing support for Palestinian statehood. Several world leaders, including Colombia’s President Gustavo Petro, showed visible solidarity with protesters. Petro called for international intervention and, controversially, for US troops not to follow orders he viewed as supporting ongoing conflict. The US later revoked Petro’s visa over his role in the protests, which he argued was evidence of a declining respect for international law.
The Gaza conflict is one of the world’s most contentious and closely-watched issues. It has drawn strong feelings and differing opinions from governments, activists, and ordinary people worldwide. The United Nations, as an international organization focused on peace and human rights, is a key arena for these debates. The events surrounding Netanyahu’s speech show that many nations and voices are urging new action—from recognition of Palestinian rights to calls for sanctions against Israel—while discussion and disagreement over the best path forward continue.
This episode at the UN highlights how international diplomacy, public protests, and official policy are all intersecting in real time as the search for solutions to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict remains urgent and unresolved.
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