A 4-year-old girl whose parents were slain by Hamas was among 17 hostages released from Gaza on Sunday, marking the first time a US citizen has been freed since a delicate cease-fire was struck up between the terror organization and Israel.
Two American women were also reportedly on the list to be freed Sunday, although it was not immediately clear whether they were released, too.
Abigail Mor Edan — who turned 4 in captivity Friday after becoming an orphan in the deadly Oct. 7 incursion — was released to the Red Cross, senior US officials told CNN.
President Biden on Friday had expressed hope that the young Israeli-American girl would be among those released this weekend, telling reporters, “I’m keeping my fingers crossed.”
The 17 hostages, which included 14 Israeli and three foreign nations, all of whom were received by the Red Cross, was the third group freed since the cease-fire began Thursday.
Some of the newly freed hostages were directly taken to Israel, while others were transferred through Egypt, with one of the civilians airlifted directly to an Israeli hospital, the IDF said.
In exchange for the hostages, Israel was freeing 39 Palestinian prisoners, Qatar foreign ministry rep Majed Al-Ansari said in a statement.
A fourth exchange was agreed to take place Monday, the final day of the cease-fire.
Hamas has released 58 hostages so far, including 40 Israeli citizens and 18 foreign nationals.
Hamas noted Sunday that it would release one Russian hostage “in response to the efforts of Russian President Vladimir Putin” and the Kremlin’s pro-Palestinian stance on the war. Israeli reported that the hostage to be released is an Israeli-Russian dual citizen.
Abigail had been snatched by Hamas on Kibbutz Kfar Aza after her father Roy Edan, 43, a photojournalist, and mother Smadar Edan were killed during the Oct. 7 attack.
Her older siblings, 6 and 10, survived after hiding in a closet for 14 hours.
Abigail was reportedly in her father’s arms when he and her mother were shot and killed by Hamas.
“The one thing that we all hold on to is that hope now that Abigail comes home, she comes home by Friday,” her aunt, Liz Hirsh Naftali, told CNN Tuesday night.
“Friday is her fourth birthday. We need to see Abigail come out, and then we will be able to believe it.”
Hamas on Saturday released a second group of 13 Israeli hostages and four Thai hostages after hours of agonizing delay, which the terrorists blamed on Israel allegedly reneging on the terms of the four-day pause in hostilities.
At least 70 aid trucks carrying food, water, fuel, and medical supplies entered the Gaza Strip through the Rafah crossing Saturday.
The aid included nearly 40,000 gallons of fuel and four trucks with natural gas for cooking as part of the cease-fire agreement, which will allow 200 supply trucks into the war-torn region.
The excruciating negotiations came on the second day of a four-day cease-fire between the terror group and the Israeli government and stalled the release of the 39 Palestinian prisoners set to be given in exchange for 17 hostages abducted in Hamas’ vicious Oct. 7 incursion.
The four Thai nationals were identified Sunday morning as Natthaphon Onkaew, Khomkrit Chombua, Anucha Angkaew and Manee Jirachat.
https://nypost.com/2023/11/26/news/abigail-edan-and-2-other-american-hostgaes-expected-to-be-freed-by-hamas/
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