Hamas has released 2 American hostages but many remain unaccounted for. Here's what you should know

Judith and Natalie Raanan are seen escorted by Israeli soldiers on Friday. Government of Israel/AP

Hamas has released two American hostages – Judith Tai Raanan and her 17-year-old daughter, Natalie Raanan – nearly two weeks after it launched a deadly attack in Israel and abducted around 200 people.

The US citizens were handed over at the border with Gaza and are now in the care of the Israel Defense Forces, IDF spokesperson Daniel Hagari said Friday. 

The US welcomes the release and "shares in the relief that their families, friends and loved ones are feeling," US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a briefing.

US President Joe Biden, who spoke with the released hostages by phone Friday, said he is “overjoyed” the mother and daughter will “soon be reunited with their family." 

Israel previously told the US government that some Americans held hostage by Hamas are known to be alive, a US official told CNN.

Here's more details you should know:

• Home by next week: Ben Raanan, the brother of Natalie Raanan, says his sister is likely to return to the US within the next few days. He told CNN their freedom came suddenly and that his joy at the release is tempered by the continued suffering of so many others in the conflict. "There are families all over in Gaza and in Israel that are experiencing a lot that I can't even imagine," he said.
• Freed hostages "in a good state": Uri Raanan, the father of Natalie Raanan, said Friday he had spoken with his daughter that day and she was in a good state. He said his daughter's mother had a "little scratch on her hand," but hadn't reported any other injuries.
• Captives still unaccounted for: Blinken said there are still 10 additional Americans who remain unaccounted for out of the 200 captives being held in Gaza, including men, women, elderly people and children. Blinken said "the urgent work to free every single American, to free all other hostages, continues."
• The US was “very much involved” in securing the release of the hostages, said National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby. He also offered to credit Israel and Qatar, which played "key roles" in the process. But Kirby declined to discuss the motivations and details behind Hamas’ willingness to release them.
• Israel working to return all hostages: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said his country will continue working to return all hostages. "We will not ease the effort to bring back all abductees and those missing," Netanyahu said.
• Hamas claims they are working with mediators: Shortly after the release of the two American hostages on Friday, Hamas issued a statement saying they are working with mediators in Egypt, Qatar and other "friendly countries."