Hamas

U.S. Rep. Eric Sorensen took a tour Friday night of the Illinois State University campus with interim president Aondover Tarhule and discussed the state of education in central Illinois, and national and international affairs.

Illinois State University politics and government professor Ali Riaz calls on the U.S. to take a more forceful role in trying to broker a deal to create an independent Palestinian state.

Natalie Raanan, 18, and her mother Judith Raanan, 59, were kidnapped Oct. 7 and taken hostage by Hamas. They were released nearly two weeks later. The Consul General of Israel to the Midwest Yinam Cohen announced Natalie Raanan’s return to Chicago but did not mention when Judith Raanan would return home.

Judith Raanan, 59, and her daughter Natalie Raanan, 17, had been held hostage since Oct. 7 after Hamas attacked Israel.