TL/DR –
Abigail Edan, a four-year-old American dual citizen abducted by Hamas, has been released; she is one of the 17 hostages freed on Sunday. Edan’s parents were killed during her abduction and she will now receive care at Schneider Children’s Medical Center along with other released child hostages. US President Joe Biden expressed hope that this release is not the end of the temporary truce between Israel and Hamas, and thanked the Qatari government and other entities involved in the release of Hamas’ hostages.
Abigail Edan, Hostage in Hamas Truce, Released
Abigail Edan, a four-year-old American dual citizen, was abducted by Hamas on October 7 and has been released. This marks the first successful release of an American hostage since the initiation of a truce between Israel and Hamas. Edan was among the 17 hostages released on Sunday.
President Biden’s Remarks on Abigail’s Release
President Joe Biden expressed relief at Abigail’s release, stating that she had endured a terrible trauma and was now receiving the support she needed. He added that the child was currently in Israel, though he didn’t specify details about her condition.
Abigail’s Transfer to Medical Center
Abigail is reportedly being transferred to Schneider Children’s Medical Center, which also received the other child hostages, according to a spokesperson from the Hostage and Missing Families Forum. President Biden spoke with Abigail’s family following her release.
Israel Prime Minister and Biden Discuss Developments
The President also had a conversation with Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, discussing the recent hostage release and the latest developments in Israel and Gaza.
Appreciation from Abigail’s Relatives
In a joint statement, Abigail’s great-aunt and cousin expressed their gratitude to President Biden, the Qatari government, and other informal actors involved in the hostage release. They also expressed their commitment to continue supporting families of other hostages still held captive.
US Negotiations and Tracking
US officials advocated for Abigail and two other American women to be included in the early release of hostages, and were able to track her movements through Gaza. There was no sigh of relief until she was safely across the border in Israel, as revealed by a senior administration official.
Expectations for Other American Hostages
Two other American women are expected to be part of the group of 50 women and children hostages released as part of a four-day truce, now in its third day. However, no Americans were released as part of the deal on Friday or Saturday. There are currently 10 Americans unaccounted for.
Release of Other Hostages
As part of the brokered deal between Hamas and Israel, 24 hostages were freed on Friday, followed by 17 more on Saturday. All 41 foreign nationals released by Hamas are stable, according to medical professionals.
Hamas’ Commitment to Red Cross Visitation
National security adviser Jake Sullivan mentioned that Hamas has agreed to allow Red Cross to visit the remaining hostages in Gaza. He expressed expectations that Qatar, Egypt, and other countries will hold Hamas accountable to maintain this commitment.
Inspection of Humanitarian Aid
Sullivan detailed the inspection mechanisms involved in getting humanitarian aid into Gaza. It involves checks by Israelis to ensure the aid includes only humanitarian supplies, followed by transfer to UN depots and other trusted organizations. The aid is then directly distributed to the people.
Hamas’ Role in Extending Truce
Israel is prepared to extend the pause in fighting in exchange for Hamas releasing 10 hostages each day, Sullivan said. Israeli President Isaac Herzog also confirmed this, stating that the extension of the humanitarian pause was dependent on more hostages being released by Hamas.
Biden has been in close touch with Israel and UN leadership to ensure the aid is reaching those who need it.
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