The 4-year-old Hamas captive, Abigail Mor Edan, is now free. What you should know is as follows:
The 4-year-old Hamas captive, Abigail Mor Edan, is now free. / Credit: CBS Mornings / Naftali family© Image by CBS News
President Biden and the Israeli military both verified that Abigail Mor Edan, the youngest American citizen detained by Hamas, was one of the hostages freed on Sunday and returned to Israel.
Last week, while being held captive in Gaza, Abigail celebrated her fourth birthday. Her parents were slain in the Oct. 7 strikes on Israel by Hamas. According to Israeli officials, she was abducted and brought to the Palestinian enclave during the violent assault along with roughly 240 other people.
Her name was mentioned by Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani to "Face the Nation" moderator Margaret Brennan on a list of hostages that Hamas had earlier stated it intended to release on Sunday. But Brennan had heard from several sources that, given the delicate nature of the case, no release was certain.
The release of the hostages on Sunday came after two previous waves of releases that were contingent on an agreement with Israel that would result in the release of roughly 150 Palestinian women and teenagers who were detained in Israel and at least 50 women and children who were kept captive in Gaza. A temporary cease-fire agreement was also part of the parameters, which would permit the entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza and the voluntary return of displaced Palestinians to their homes in the region's devastated north.
It was decided that the cease-fire would last four days, and Sunday is the third day. However, Israel has stated that it would be open to extending the cease-fire by one day for every ten captives that Hamas releases.
Abigail was among the seventeen hostages that Hamas freed on Sunday. According to Israeli officials, three of them are foreign nationals and the remaining fourteen are Israeli citizens. Israeli-American Abigail is a dual citizen of the United States and Israel.
White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan stated in a separate "Face the Nation" interview on Sunday morning that the United States has "reason to believe that Americans will be released today—at least one American will be released today." The countries from which the three foreign nationals are originally were not immediately apparent.
During his Sunday television remarks, President Biden specifically mentioned Abigail's release.
Mr. Biden stated, "She's free and she's in Israel now," noting that Abigail had "been through a terrible trauma." Before the child's father was shot and died for using his body to protect Abigail from the attack, the child's mother was murdered in front of her by Hamas terrorists. Then, Mr. Biden said, Abigail raced to neighbors for assistance.
"What she endured is unthinkable," he declared.
In a statement released on Sunday, Abigail's great-aunt Liz Hirsh Naftali and her cousin Noa Naftali said, "We hoped and prayed today would come." We are so relieved and grateful that Abigail is safe and returning home that words cannot explain."
They expressed gratitude to President Biden and the government of Qatar, saying, "Today's release demonstrates that it is feasible." All of the hostages can be returned home. We must not give up."
In an interview with "CBS Mornings" on Wednesday, Liz Hirsh and Noa Naftali said that the youngster had been apprehended alongside neighbors from the Kfar Aza kibbutz, where she resided with her parents and two elder brothers. According to Noa Natfali, the six- and ten-year-old siblings managed to elude capture for fourteen hours by hiding inside a closet.
"At first, we believed Abigail was dead, but we later learned that she was alive. Noa Naftali remarked, "Her father was able to protect her with his body. "She crawled out from underneath him and went over to the neighbors, who took her in, and they were also taken hostage — a mother, a 10-year-old, an 8-year old and a 4-year old who goes to preschool with Abigail."
A few days later, according to Liz Hirsh Naftali, the family found out that during the Hamas raid, a witness had witnessed the neighbor being dragged out of the kibbutz along with Abigail and her three children. "And then we did not find out any more information," she continued.
If Abigail was one of the hostages freed, Noa Naftali informed "CBS Mornings" that she would live with her aunt, uncle, and grandparents, who her siblings were already staying with. It was her hope that the family would be able to give the kids "the love and support that they need after losing their parents."
About Abigail, Liz Hirsh Naftali remarked, "She ran that house." "We are aware that the only thing that can save her sister and brother is for her to return. One of the things we keep hearing is that they are certain about the events on October 7. They did really witness it. Their ages are six and ten. They comprehend. The one thing they can only hope will happen is that Abigail returns, since that would allow them to find some type of resolution and go on."
