Safe at last: American-Israeli orphan girl, 4, is seen for the first time since being released by Hamas after her parents were killed by terrorists in the October 7 massacre
A four-year-old Israeli-American orphan kidnapped by Hamas after the killing of her parents on October 7 was seen for the first time since her release on Sunday.
Her grandfather, Carmel Edan, told Israeli media that he couldn’t believe it when he saw his granddaughter, Abigail Mor Edan, on her way back to Israel via the Red Cross transport. Her release ultimately came after she was not included in Friday and Saturday’s exchanges.
‘We were searching. She’s not here! What a disappointment,” he said The times of Israel. ‘Russian roulette. We waited for the second day. Once again, Abigail isn’t here! We couldn’t believe it.’
While the family was happy to see her released, they also know she is without her parents, who were killed by Hamas terrorists on October 7.
“Now I am calm, but not completely calm because there is happiness, but there is also the absence of Roee and Smadar,” said Carmel Edan, calling their deaths “an open wound that will never heal.”
Abigail’s first photo since her release: seen in a Red Cross ambulance (right) after being released by Hamas as the first American to be freed
Abigail Mor Edan’s grandfather, Carmel, said he is happy she is free from Hamas terrorists but fears the four-year-old will have to deal with her dead parents.
Abigail celebrated her fourth birthday in captivity on November 24
Carmel Edan said that even though he is filled with joy that his granddaughter is now on her way home, he knows that “there are a lot of people who haven’t come back yet.” Abigail was the first American released during the negotiated ceasefire between Palestine and Israel.
“I really want them to be returned and for the IDF to finish what it promised: all the hostages [back] and Hamas [destroyed],’ he said.
The grandfather is not yet allowed to speak to or meet Abigail, but plans to smother her with kisses when they are reunited.
“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 her kibbutz in southern Israel.
Fighters shot her parents, Roy Edan, 43, and Smadar Edan, 40, during the attack.
The girl’s siblings, aged ten and six, survived after hiding in the family home for hours. Carmel Edan said he has not yet told them about their younger sister’s release.
Abigail, who celebrated her fourth birthday in captivity, is now in the care of Red Cross officials. President Joe Biden said after her release that what the young person endured was “unthinkable” and that she suffered “terrible trauma.”
“I wish I was there to hold her,” Biden said. “Today she is free, and Jilly and I, along with so many Americans, are praying that she is doing well.”
The grandfather thanked Biden and said: “We love him very much for all the help he gives us to Israel. Keep going. Keep going. We don’t admire you. We love you.’
The girl’s siblings survived after hiding in the family home for hours while their parents died. The grandfather said he has not yet told Abigail’s brother and sister about her release
The four-year-old was taken and her two young 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 youngster had endured terrible “trauma” and “unspeakable” heartbreak
The terror group has been holding prisoners since the Oct. 7 surprise attack on Israel, which killed more than 1,200 Israelis. More than 13,000 Palestinians have been killed in the Israeli counter-offensive.
State Department officials have not yet released the names of the other American hostages. A total of ten Americans are currently missing.
Of the seventeen hostages released on Sunday, fourteen were Israelis, while three were foreign nationals.
National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said on ABC’s ‘This Week’ that two women, a child and seven men were confirmed to have been taken by Hamas.
“All of these hostages have been through a terrible ordeal, and this is the beginning of a long journey of healing for them,” Biden said in a speech from Nantucket, Massachusetts, where he was celebrating Thanksgiving.
Earlier that day, the president was briefed several times by his national security team on the latest developments regarding the release of hostages from Gaza.
“This morning I engaged with my team as we began the first difficult days of implementing this deal,” Biden said. “It’s just a start, but so far so good.”
He noted that the first group of hostages included “an elderly woman, a grandmother and mothers with their young children, some under the age of six.”
Four-year-old Abigail was released on Sunday after 49 days in captivity
Hostages were released Friday and Saturday, but Sunday marked the first time an American was released during the ceasefire
A four-day ceasefire began after 48 days of fighting that claimed thousands of lives. The most recent group to be released included thirteen Israelis
Judith and Natalie Raanan, who have dual American-Israeli citizenship, were released last month
“All of these hostages have been through 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 by several hours.
The militant wing of the Al-Qassam Brigade accused Israel of violating the agreed terms and demanded that Israel commit to allowing aid trucks into northern Gaza for the first time in more than a month.
The UN 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 citizens were released on Friday along with eleven foreigners, followed on Saturday by another thirteen 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 kkidnapped together from Nahal Oz.
She 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 asked his government to accept a deal under which Hamas would free hostages in exchange for a multi-day truce.
A US official said the deal includes 50 hostages from Israel, mostly women and children, in exchange for 150 Palestinian prisoners.
It came into effect on Friday, a day later than planned, and saw opponents agree to a four-day halt to fighting. The deal was brokered by Qatar, the US and Egypt.