'We Cannot Rest,' Say Relatives of Freed American Hostages

For cousins of the two American hostages released Friday by Hamas, the ordeal isn't over yet. Eight of their family members are still being held in Gaza, and three have been killed. Ayelet Sella and her brother Or said they were reunited at their home in Israel with Judith and Natalie Raanan of Illinois, ABC News reports. They hope other family members are alive but don't know. "We don't have the privilege to be happy or to celebrate. We don't have the privilege to mourn," Ayelet Sella said. "We cannot rest. Getting Judith and Natalie back, it is not the end. It is the beginning."

One of the relatives still held hostage is 3 years old, per NBC News. Some of them are dual citizens of the US and Israel. "They were just innocent, innocent civilians who were taken from their homes inside Israel's borders," Ayelet Sella said. When she and her brother saw the Raanans, "I realized I hadn't breathed for two weeks," she said. Or Sella said, "I've never felt a hug this intense in my life." The family has barely slept since the Oct. 7 Hamas attack, he said, adding: "We are 100% focused on doing everything we can to just get everyone back. Our family and 200 more families." (Hamas has released two more hostages.)