The Biden administration confirmed on Sunday that a 4-year-old American-Israeli dual citizen was among 13 hostages released by Hamas. This was part of a hostage swap deal. He stated that the child has been safely returned to Israel and prayed for her well-being. The president mentioned that the child had been held hostage by Hamas since her recent birthday and that her release was a result of intense U.S. diplomacy.
Abigail Edan is the name of the 4-year-old girl who appears to be the first U.S. citizen released by Hamas since the terrorist attack in October. Her parents were killed in the attack, leaving her and her siblings to be held in captivity. The child was among 13 hostages released from Gaza. The release took place during a ceasefire between the Israeli military and Hamas.
The ceasefire, a result of U.S. diplomacy, also resulted in the release of all hostages and prisoners and allows for the potential of additional releases. There are plans to extend the release of more hostages. President Biden emphasized that the U.S. administration is focused on ensuring the freedom and safety of all hostages. It was not immediately clear where the Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu went inside Gaza. Hamas and other groups seized around 240 people during their incursion into southern Israel that triggered the war. The ceasefire was brokered by Qatar, Egypt, and the United States. The United States is working on the possibility of extending the truce to free additional hostages beyond the initial 50.