Moment four-year-old American citizen Abigail Edan is reunited with her family after being released from Hamas captivity – 49 days after her parents were killed by terrorists
- Edan was the youngest hostage – and the first American – released on Sunday
- On October 7, Hamas militants stormed her kibbutz and killed her parents
- Abigail had a birthday while she was being held
A four-year-old American-Israeli girl has been reunited with her family after both her parents were killed by Hamas before being taken as a hostage to Gaza.
Abigail Edan was the youngest hostage – and the first American – released on Sunday during a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas.
She was photographed being welcomed at Hatzerim Air Base on Monday by her aunt Liron and grandmother Shlomit. Further photos showed her at Schneider Hospital near Tel Aviv, where doctors said she was “doing remarkably well.”
On October 7, Hamas militants stormed her kibbutz, Kfar Azza, and murdered her parents. The girl then ran to a neighbor’s house to seek shelter, and the Brodutch family took her in as the rampage raged. All five – Abigail, Hagar Brodutch and her three children – subsequently disappeared and were later confirmed to be prisoners.
Abigail had a birthday while she was being held.
Abigail Edan is reunited with her aunt Liron, third from left, her uncle Zuli, second from right, and her grandparents Shlomit, right, and Eitan
Abigail is seen with an IDF soldier shortly after her release from Hamas
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.
As a dual US-Israeli citizen, President Joe Biden had taken a personal interest in her release and welcomed the news that she was among the latest batch to be released on Sunday.
“Thank God she’s home,” Biden told reporters. “I wish I was there to hold her.”