An orphaned four-year-old Israeli-American girl who was kidnapped by Hamas after her parents were killed on October 7 was seen for the first time since her release on Sunday.
Her grandfather, Carmel Edan, told Israeli media that he could not believe it when he saw his granddaughter Abigail Mor Edan on the way back to Israel on a Red Cross transport. She was eventually released after she failed to attend the exchange events on Friday and Saturday.
“We were looking. She’s not there! What a disappointment,” he said, according to The Times of Israel. ‘Russian roulette. We waited on the second day. Abigail isn’t there either! We couldn’t believe it.’
While the family was happy that she was released, they also know that she is without her parents, who were murdered by Hamas terrorists on October 7.
“Now I am calm, but not completely calm, because there is happiness, but also the absence of Roee and Smadar,” Carmel Edan said, calling her death “an open wound that will never heal.”
The first picture of Abigail since her release: seen in a Red Cross ambulance (right) after she was released by Hamas as the first American released
Carmel, Abigail Mor Edan’s grandfather, said he was glad she was free of Hamas terrorists but was worried about the four-year-old having to deal with her dead parents
Abigail celebrated her fourth birthday in captivity on November 24th
Carmel Edan said that while he was excited that his granddaughter was now on her way home, he knew that “there are a lot of people who haven’t come back yet.” Abigail was the first American to be released as part of the ceasefire negotiated between Palestine and Israel.
“I very much hope that they will be returned and that the IDF will keep what it promised: all the hostages.” [back] and Hamas [destroyed],’ he said.
The grandfather hasn’t been allowed to speak or meet Abigail yet, but plans to shower her with kisses when they see her again.
“There’s nothing to say,” he added.
Edan was one of 17 hostages released on Sunday, 49 days after war broke out and militants stormed their kibbutz in southern Israel.
Militants shot and killed her parents, Roy Edan (43) and Smadar Edan (40) in the attack.
The girl’s siblings, ages 10 and 6, survived after hiding in the family home for hours. Carmel Edan said he had not yet told them about her younger sister’s release.
Abigail, who celebrated her fourth birthday in captivity, is now in the hands of Red Cross officials. President Joe Biden said after her release that what the young woman went through was “unthinkable” and that she had suffered “horrible trauma.”
“I wish I was there to hold her,” Biden said. “Today she is free and Jilly and I join so many Americans in praying that she is well.”
The grandfather thanked Biden and said: “We love him very much for all the help he gives us, Israel.” Moving on. Keep going. We don’t admire you. We love you.’
The girl’s siblings survived after hiding in the family home for hours while her parents died. The grandfather said he had not yet told Abigail’s brother and sister about her release
The four-year-old was kidnapped and her two little siblings survived after hiding in the family home for hours
President Joe Biden issued a statement on Abigail’s release from Nantucket on Sunday afternoon, saying the teen had suffered terrible “trauma” and “unspeakable” heartbreak
The terror group has been holding prisoners since its surprise attack on Israel on October 7, which left more than 1,200 Israelis dead. Over 13,000 Palestinians were killed in the Israeli counteroffensive.
State Department officials have not yet released the names of the other American hostages. A total of ten Americans are currently missing.
Of the 17 hostages released on Sunday, 14 were Israelis and three were foreign nationals.
Appearing on ABC’s “This Week,” National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said it was confirmed that two women, a child and seven men had been abducted by Hamas.
“All of these hostages have endured a terrible ordeal, and this is the beginning of a long journey of healing for them,” Biden said in an address from Nantucket, Massachusetts, where he was celebrating Thanksgiving.
Previously, the President was briefed several times by his national security team on the latest developments related to the release of the hostages from Gaza.
“This morning I was busy with my team as the difficult first days of implementing this deal begin,” Biden said. “It’s just a start, but so far it’s been going well.”
He noted that the first group of hostages included “an elderly woman, a grandmother and mothers with their small children, some under the age of six.”
Four-year-old Abigail was released on Sunday after 49 days in captivity
Hostages were released on Friday and Saturday, but Sunday was the first time an American was released during the ceasefire
After 48 days of fighting in which thousands of people died, a four-day ceasefire began. The latest group to be released included 13 Israelis
Judith and Natalie Raanan, who have dual American-Israeli citizenship, were released last month
“All of these hostages have endured a terrible ordeal, and this is the beginning of a long journey of healing for them,” President Joe Biden said Friday
On Saturday, a disagreement over the delivery of aid to Gaza delayed the release of prisoners for several hours.
The militant wing of the Al-Qassam Brigades accused Israel of violating agreed terms and called on Israel to commit to allowing aid trucks to enter the northern Gaza Strip for the first time in over a month.
The United Nations estimates that 1.7 million of the 2.3 million people living in Gaza have been displaced by the war.
So far, 58 prisoners have been released in the first three days of the ceasefire, including several children.
Thirteen Israeli civilians were released on Friday along with 11 foreigners, followed on Saturday by another 13 Israelis and four Thai nationals.
This number does not include those released before the ceasefire began. Two Americans, a mother and daughter from Illinois, were released last month.
Judith and Natalie Raanan, who have dual American-Israeli citizenship, were kidnapped together from Nahal Oz.
They were handed over to the Red Cross on October 20 before the organization passed them on to Israel.
On Tuesday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called on his government to agree to a Hamas deal to release hostages in exchange for a multi-day ceasefire.
A US official said the deal would involve the kidnapping of 50 hostages from Israel, mostly women and children, in exchange for 150 Palestinian prisoners.
It came into force on Friday, a day later than planned, and required opponents to agree to a four-day cessation of fighting. The deal was brokered by Qatar, the USA and Egypt.