Abigail Mor Edan, the youngest U.S. citizen held by Hamas, was amongst the group of hostages launched again to Israel on Sunday, each President Biden and the Israeli army confirmed.
Abigail, whose dad and mom had been killed in Hamas’ Oct. 7 assaults on Israel, turned 4 years previous final week whereas in captivity in Gaza. She was kidnapped and brought to the Palestinian enclave throughout the lethal rampage together with an estimated 240 others, in accordance to Israeli officers.
Her title had appeared on an inventory of hostages that Hamas beforehand stated it deliberate to launch on Sunday, Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani instructed to “Face the Nation” moderator Margaret Brennan.
CBS Mornings / Naftali household
The hostages launched on Sunday adopted two earlier waves of releases that hinged on a cope with Israel that will see the launch of no less than 50 ladies and youngsters held captive in Gaza, in addition to the launch of about 150 Palestinian ladies and youngsters imprisoned in Israel. The phrases additionally included a brief cease-fire settlement that will enable humanitarian assist to enter Gaza and displaced Palestinians to return at their discretion to their properties in the ravaged northern a part of the territory.
The pause in preventing was agreed to final 4 days — with Sunday being the third day — though Israel has stated it might be prepared to prolong the cease-fire in the future for each 10 further hostages launched by Hamas.
Seventeen hostages, together with Abigail, had been launched by Hamas on Sunday. Fourteen of them are Israeli residents and three are overseas nationals, Israeli officers stated. Abigail holds citizenship in each Israel and the U.S.
A photograph launched Monday exhibits her smiling as she sits along with her aunt and uncle at the hospital the place she was taken in Israel.
Schneider Children’s Medical Center of Israel/Handout by way of REUTERS
President Biden spoke about Abigail’s launch in televised remarks Sunday.
“She’s free and she’s in Israel now,” Mr. Biden stated, including that Abigail has “been through a terrible trauma.” The kid’s mom was killed in entrance of her by Hamas militants earlier than her father was additionally gunned down whereas utilizing his physique to protect Abigail from the assault. Abigail then ran to neighbors for assist, Mr. Biden stated.
“What she endured is unthinkable,” he stated.
Abigail’s great-aunt, Liz Hirsh Naftali, and her cousin, Noa Naftali, stated in a press release Sunday, “We hoped and prayed today would come. There are no words to express our relief and gratitude that Abigail is safe and coming home.”
They thanked President Biden and the Qatari authorities, including, “Today’s release proves that it’s possible. We can get all hostages back home. We have to keep pushing.”
Liz Hirsh Naftali and Noa Naftali instructed “CBS Mornings” on Wednesday that the little one had been captured together with neighbors from the Kfar Aza kibbutz, the place she lived along with her dad and mom and two older siblings. The siblings, who’re 6 and 10 years previous, survived the assault by locking themselves inside a closet and hiding there for 14 hours, Noa Natfali stated.
“We thought at the beginning that Abigail had died, but we later found out that she survived. Her father was able to shield her with his body,” Noa Naftali stated. “She crawled out from underneath him and went over to the neighbors, who took her in, and they were also taken hostage — a mother, a 10-year-old, an 8-year old and a 4-year old who goes to preschool with Abigail.”
Liz Hirsh Naftali stated the household discovered a number of days later {that a} witness had seen the neighbor being led out of the kibbutz along with her three youngsters in addition to Abigail throughout the Hamas assault. “And then we did not find out any more information,” she stated.
Noa Naftali instructed “CBS Mornings” that Abigail would reside along with her aunt, uncle and grandparents, with whom her siblings had been already staying, if she was amongst the hostages launched. She stated the household would find a way to present the youngsters with “the love and support that they need after losing their parents.”
“She ran that house,” Liz Hirsh Naftali stated of Abigail. “We know that for her to come back, for her sister and her brother, is their one hope. This is one of the things that we just keep hearing, that they know exactly what happened on Oct. 7. Yes, they witnessed it. They are 6 and 10. They understand. … The one piece that they can only hope that will come to give some sort of an ability for a closure and to move on is that Abigail comes back.”