- President Joe Biden spoke Sunday about the release of four-year-old Israeli-American hostage Abigail Mor Edan from Nantucket
- “I wish I was there to hold her,” the president said
- Biden said he was “hopeful” that more Americans would be sent back to Israel by Hamas in the coming days
President Joe Biden welcomed the release of four-year-old Israeli-American Abigail Mor Edan, who was among the hostages released by Hamas on Sunday.
The president delivered an impromptu speech about Edan’s release from the White Elephant Hotel on Nantucket as he concluded his six-day Thanksgiving vacation with family on the island.
Biden noted that Edan turned four on Friday and spent her birthday in captivity after Hamas terrorists murdered her parents in front of her during the Oct. 7 terrorist attack on Israel.
“Thank God she’s home.” “I just can’t imagine the fun,” said the president, laughing with joy. “I wish I was there to hold her.”
Biden said he was “confident” that more American hostages would be released in the coming days, “but I don’t have anything specific to say to you right now.”
President Joe Biden welcomed the release of four-year-old Israeli-American Abigail Mor Edan, who was among the hostages released by Hamas on Sunday
The president gave an impromptu speech about Edan’s release from the White Elephant Hotel on Nantucket
Abigail Mor Edan turned four years old on Friday when she was held hostage by Hamas. She was released on Sunday
He promised to carry on.
“We will not stop working until every hostage is returned to their loved ones,” Biden said.
The president said he did not know what condition Edan was in nor had he seen any pictures of the little girl since her release after spending more than 50 days in the hands of Hamas terrorists.
“Today she is free and Jill and I join so many Americans in praying that she is well,” Biden said. “You know, she’s free and she’s in Israel now.”
He noted that she would need a lot of support after this “terrible trauma” and paid tribute to those who are “wrapping Abigail in love and care now.”
“They know that their mother was killed in front of them when their kibbutz was attacked by Hamas terrorists on October 7,” Biden said. “Abigail then ran to her father, who was then shot, although he himself was shot while using his body to protect little Abigail.”
“She then ran to a neighbor for help where they were all taken hostage. The entire neighboring house was taken hostage by Hamas and held for 50 days,” the president continued. “What she had to endure was unimaginable.”
Biden praised Edan’s release “a lot of hard work and weeks of personal commitment from me and my team” as they were in close contact with the leaders of Israel, Egypt and Qatar.
The president particularly thanked the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, for keeping the hostage release on track after problems arose on Saturday.
“For weeks, I have advocated for a pause in fighting for two reasons – to increase assistance to civilians in Gaza who need help and to facilitate the release of hostages,” Biden said.
“We know that innocent children in Gaza are also suffering greatly because of the consequences of this war that Hamas has unleashed,” Biden added.
He later told reporters that he would support maintaining the pause “as long as the prisoners continue to come out.”
‘That is my goal. “That is our goal: to maintain this pause beyond tomorrow so that we can continue to see the release of more hostages and provide more humanitarian assistance to those in need in Gaza,” Biden said.
“This is the day-by-day approach, the hour-by-hour process, nothing is guaranteed and nothing is taken for granted,” the president continued. “But the proof that this is working and worth pursuing is in every smile and grateful tear we see on the faces of these families who are finally coming together again.”
“The proof is little Abigail,” Biden added.