It took three days of ceasefire in Gaza and three hostage exchanges by the Islamist militia Hamas against Palestinian prisoners in Israeli prisons for a US citizen to appear on the list. According to the 17 names announced by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office this Sunday, it is four-year-old Abigail Edan.
“She is now safe in Israel,” US President Joe Biden said around midday local time, promising that he would work to “extend the ceasefire” beyond 7:00 a.m. Tuesday. “We continue to press and hope that more Americans will also be released,” he added. “We will not stop working until all hostages are returned to their families. “This agreement was the result of hard work and weeks of personal commitment by me and my team.” “I hope that the ceasefire will be extended,” he said.
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When asked by reporters, he also said he could not provide further information about the status of the remaining American hostages held by Hamas. Not even if they expected that they would be included in the next prisoner exchange. The ceasefire that began on Friday essentially expires this Tuesday morning.
“We are committed to ensuring that this agreement is fully implemented and we will work to extend it.” For weeks I have been calling for a pause in fighting for two reasons: to increase aid to Gaza’s civilians in need and to to facilitate the release of hostages. And we know that the innocent children in Gaza are also suffering greatly,” Biden said, addressing the nation from Nantucket Island, Massachusetts, where his family has spent the Thanksgiving holiday every year for decades, which the country most recently Thursday paralyzed.
Edan, Biden said, was kidnapped from Kibbutz Kfar Azzael on October 7, the day of Hamas’ surprise attack on Israeli territory that left about 1,200 people dead and provoked an unprecedented offensive by the Israeli army in Gaza that has already taken place It cost the lives of almost 15,000 Palestinians. “[La niña] “He saw his mother murdered,” the president said. “What had to happen in these 50 days is unimaginable.” He also recalled that Edan, who has dual nationality, American and Israeli, served four years during his captivity.
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Biden indicated that he planned to speak with Prime Minister Netanyahu this Sunday to insist on his position. Netanyahu visited the Gaza Strip today and declared that the war would resume after the ceasefire “and until victory.” The US President reiterated his commitment to the “two-state solution”. “This is the only way to ensure the long-term security of both Israelis and Palestinians.” That they can live in freedom and dignity under equal conditions. “I will not give up working for this goal.”
The 17 people released on Sunday include 13 Israelis and four foreigners. The group joined the 24 hostages released on Friday and the 17 on Saturday, a day that tested the fragility of the deal between Israel and Hamas involving the exchange of 13 Israelis and four Thais for 39 Palestinian prisoners (33 minors and six delayed women). Hamas reported Saturday afternoon that it was delaying the exchange because Israel was not honoring the cessation of hostilities agreement and represented “many violations.” Its armed wing, the Ezedín al-Qassam Brigades, paralyzed the trial in the afternoon. Finally, the agonizing tug-of-war was resolved at the end of the day.
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