Washington – Abigail Mor Edan, the latest American held hostage by Hamas, was among the hostages released by Hamas on Sunday, President Biden confirmed Sunday.
“She is free and now in Israel,” President Biden said Sunday, adding that she had “gone through a terrible trauma.”
Mr Biden said Abigail’s mother was killed in front of her. The young girl ran to her father, who was shot while using his body to protect her, and then ran to neighbors for help, Mr. Biden said.
“What she endured is unimaginable,” he said.
Seventeen hostages were released – 14 Israeli citizens, including Abigail, an Israeli-American citizen, and three foreign nationals, Israeli officials said.
The Qatari Foreign Ministry said that 39 Palestinians will also be released as part of this hostage exchange.
Biden confirms 4-year-old American girl among latest hostages released by Hamas 09:02
Three female American hostages – including Abigail – were to be released as part of the four-day ceasefire. It is unclear whether it will be extended.
“The agreement contains a provision that if Hamas is able to prove, locate and secure some of the hostages that fall under the criteria of the first group, namely women and children, then the agreement accordingly is extended “The number they will have. “This is something we cannot confirm yet until we get to the fourth day, then Hamas should submit the list when it is available to them,” Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani said in an exclusive interview with “Face the Nation.”
Israel has publicly stated that it is prepared to extend the pause in fighting by one day for every 10 hostages released. Asked whether Hamas had managed to locate additional hostages in Gaza during the lull in fighting, Al Thani replied that there had been no such communication so far. At this stage, part of the deal, Israel agreed to release three Palestinian prisoners for every hostage – that is, children for children, women for women.
After the release of all children and female civilians, the second phase of a possible hostage release would include female soldiers, older hostages and finally the men, according to Al Thani. Negotiations with men are complicated because as military reservists they would be treated like active-duty soldiers. Some details still need to be clarified.
In total, there are ten missing Americans, including one who is a legal resident. White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan said he was “confident that all of the people held hostage will come home.”
On Sunday, Hamas also released a woman named Aviva, or Adrienne Siegel, who is the wife of US citizen Keith Siegel. Although she is not a U.S. citizen, the Biden team has advocated for her and continues to do so for her spouse who is in captivity.
Sullivan said the White House remains in close contact with authorities in Qatar and Egypt, who helped broker the deal to release the hostages, as well as with Israeli officials.
Hamas could release an American hostage today, says Jake Sullivan at 7:13 a.m
Since Friday, Hamas has released two groups of hostages held captive in Gaza since the terrorist attack. Under the U.S.-Qatari deal, Israel and Hamas agreed to a short-term ceasefire and Israel also released dozens of Palestinian prisoners.
According to officials, Hamas released 13 Israelis and four Thai nationals on Saturday, and 13 Israeli hostages, 10 Thai hostages and one Filipino hostage were released on Friday.
Israel and Hamas at war
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