Hamas is expected to release at least one American hostage today. This is the first time that US citizens have been released since the ceasefire with Israel began.
The name of the hostage expected to be released was not released. Two American women and four-year-old Abigail Mor Edan are among Hamas’ prisoners.
National security adviser Jake Sullivan said there was “reason to believe” one of them would be fired on Sunday.
“Until we get her safely out of Gaza into the hands of the authorities and ultimately into the hands of her family, we will not be sure,” Sullivan said, “but we have reason to believe that one person will be released today.”
The terror group has been holding hostages 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.
Edan, an Israeli-American girl, was kidnapped the day fighting broke out. Scores of other hostages were released on Friday and Saturday, but so far no Americans have been among those released.
On Friday, President Joe Biden confirmed that a little girl named Abigail Mor Edan and two American women were being held hostage by Hamas
4-year-old Edan lost her parents in a Hamas attack on their kibbutz on October 7th
Hostages were released on Friday and Saturday, most recently a group of 13 Israelis. No Americans were released
Edan celebrated her fourth birthday in captivity just two days ago. She was kidnapped when militants stormed her kibbutz in southern Israel and shot her parents Roy Edan, 43, and Smadar Edan, 40.
The girl’s siblings, ages 10 and 6, survived after hiding in the family home.
State Department officials have yet to confirm the names of the other two women believed to be being held hostage.
A total of ten Americans are currently missing.
“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.”
Edan celebrated her fourth birthday in captivity on November 24th
“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
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.”
On Saturday, a dispute over the delivery of aid to Gaza delayed the release of 13 Israelis for several hours.
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.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called on his government on Tuesday to agree to a deal for Hamas to release hostages in exchange for a ceasefire lasting several days.
The deal was brokered by Qatar, the USA and Egypt.
A U.S. official said the deal would include the kidnapping of 50 hostages from Israel, mostly women and children, in exchange for 150 Palestinian prisoners and a halt in fighting.
It came into force on Friday, a day later than planned, and led to Israel and Hamas agreeing to a four-day ceasefire.