A 4-year-old American-Israeli girl, Abigail Edan, was among 17 hostages released on the third day of a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas.
During an eight-minute news conference in Nantucket, Massachusetts, on Sunday, President Joe Biden responded to Abigail’s release, signifying the first successful liberation of an American hostage since the ceasefire began, according to the White House.
Abigail, who was abducted by Hamas on Oct. 7, was handed over to Red Cross officials. She was orphaned during the conflict that led to her capture, with her parents killed by Hamas terrorists on the day of her abduction. The young girl celebrated her fourth birthday while in captivity.
Her siblings, a 6-year-old sister and a 10-year-old brother, witnessed the murder of their parents and hid for 14 hours to escape the same fate, as recounted by Liz Hirsh Naftali, Abigail’s great-aunt, according to CNN.