NANTUCKET, Mass. — President Joe Biden confirmed Sunday that Abigail Edan, a four-year-old American girl who was taken hostage by Hamas after her parents were killed, was released as part of the ceasefire in the war between Israel and Hamas.
“Thank God she’s home,” Biden told reporters. “I wish I was there to hold her.”
Abigail has dual Israeli-American citizenship, and Biden said she was “safe in Israel.” She was the first American hostage to be released under the terms of the ceasefire. Biden said he had no immediate information on Abigail’s condition. The White House later said the president spoke by phone with members of the girl’s family in the United States and Israel. He also spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Hamas militants stormed Abigail’s kibbutz, Kfar Azza, on October 7 and killed her parents. She ran to a neighbor’s house for shelter, and the Brodutch family — mother Hagar and her three children — took Abigail in as the frenzy raged. Then all five disappeared and it was later confirmed that they were prisoners. They were among more than 200 people brought to Gaza during the attack that started the war. Abigail had a birthday while she was being held.
Two of Abigail’s relatives on Sunday thanked Biden, the Qatari government and others involved in securing her release, saying in a statement that they remain committed to the “safe and speedy return” of all hostages.
“Today’s release proves it is possible. We can get all the hostages back home. We have to keep pushing,” said Liz Hirsh Naftali and Noa Naftali, Abigail’s great aunt and cousin.
The Brodutch family was also in the group, ranging in age from 4 to 84, that was released on Sunday. Red Cross representatives transferred the hostages from Gaza. Some were handed over directly to Israel, while others left via Egypt. The Israeli military said one was taken directly to a hospital.
“They have endured a terrible ordeal,” Biden said, and can now begin the “long journey to healing.”
According to the White House, Biden and Netanyahu agreed that the work was not yet finished. Biden described the negotiations as a day-by-day, hour-by-hour process and said he would continue working until all hostages were free.
“Nothing is guaranteed and nothing is taken for granted. But the proof that this is working and worth continuing is in every smile and every grateful tear we see on the faces of the families finally coming together again. The proof is little Abigail,” the president said.
Biden, in remarks from Nantucket, the Massachusetts islands where he spent Thanksgiving with his family, said the ceasefire was “delivering lifesaving results.”
Israel released 39 Palestinian prisoners on Sunday as part of the deal. A fourth exchange was expected on Monday – the last day of the ceasefire, during which a total of 50 hostages and 150 Palestinian prisoners were due to be released. They are all women and minors.
Netanyahu issued a video statement after speaking with Biden. He talked about the happiness of bringing Abigail home, but also about the sadness that her parents had been murdered. “She has no parents, but she has an entire nation embracing her, and we will provide for all her needs,” he said.
Netanyahu reiterated his offer to extend the ceasefire for an additional day for every ten hostages Hamas releases. But he also said Israel would resume its offensive against Hamas “with all its might” once the ceasefire expires.
International mediators led by representatives of the United States and Qatar are trying to extend the ceasefire for as long as possible.
“We have urgently needed aid coming in and hostages coming out,” Biden said. “And this deal is structured so that it can be extended to build on these results. That is my goal, that is our goal, to keep this pause going beyond tomorrow so that we can continue to see more hostages come out and provide more humanitarian aid to those in need in Gaza.”
Before the lull in the fighting, the first hostages were released on October 17: Judith and Natalie Raanan, an American woman and her teenage daughter. Their release was seen as a successful test case for negotiating the larger deal, according to U.S. officials.
Eight other U.S. citizens and one lawful permanent resident are believed to be held hostage. Two were women, seven were men. It is not clear whether they are still alive.
Biden said he “hoped” the others would be released. “We will not stop working until all hostages are returned to their loved ones,” he said.
The war has claimed the lives of more than 1,200 Israelis, most of whom were civilians killed by Hamas in the initial attack. According to the Ministry of Health in Hamas-ruled Gaza, more than 13,300 Palestinians have been killed, about two-thirds of whom are women and minors.
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Long reported from Washington. Associated Press writer Josef Federman in Jerusalem and Sara Burnett in Chicago contributed to this report.