Third Release of Hostages By Hamas Includes Four-Year-Old American Girl

AP Photo/Adel Hana

Three days into the cease-fire exchange, an American citizen was among those hostages released by Hamas. Four-year-old Abigail Edan was released to the Red Cross on Sunday, along with 14 Israelis and 2 other foreign nationals.

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There were over 200 hostages taken by Hamas during the massacres that took place on October 7. The exact number is not clear. It has been reported that 10 are American citizens. Joe Biden is taking credit for the work he and his administration have done to get the hostages released, but this little girl is the first American released and it has been 51 days now. Thai nationals and some from the Philippines were released before Avigail and the other Americans. Hamas does not fear Joe Biden.

A two-state solution is being pushed today by both Biden and his administration. Hamas has to be destroyed. There is little hope for any peaceful agreements until that happens. Hamas is not being a good actor by releasing hostages now. They should never have been taken. Those animals massacred Israelis and Americans and others on October 7 – when a cease-fire was in place – and then took hostages which included women and children. Biden does not know if the Americans are alive or their names. The hostage negotiations have been a propaganda victory for Hamas. Joe Biden should take a seat and let the Israelis fight as they see fit.

Little Abigail’s story is heartbreaking. Her siblings hid in a closet and survived the attack. Her parents were murdered. She was being held by her father when he was shot and killed. Abigail crawled out from under his bloody body and was taken by Hamas. She was three at the time. Her fourth birthday was spent in captivity. Abigail’s mother was murdered, too. After her mother was murdered, she ran to her father. When he was murdered, she ran to a neighbor’s home. One of the children in that family attended preschool with Abigail. That is where she and that family were taken hostage. Imagine a three-year-old seeking safety as she witnessed her parents being killed and her siblings locked away in a safe room.

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Abigail’s father, Roy, was reportedly holding his daughter in his arms when he was shot and killed, along with her mother, Smadar, during an attack on the Kfar Aza kibbutz, in southern Israel.

“We thought at the beginning that Abigail had died, but we later found out that she survived. Her father was able to shield her with his body,” said cousin Noa Naftali, according to CBS News.

“She crawled out from underneath him and went over to the neighbors, who took her in, and they were also taken hostage — a mother, a 10-year-old, an 8-year old and a 4-year old who goes to preschool with Abigail.”

Prime Minister Netanyahu said that another American was released today but that person’s identity has not been made public yet.

The release of a nine-year-old Israeli boy on Friday was a joyful scene. He was reunited with his family at the hospital the hostages were being taken to for observation. He, too, spent a birthday in captivity. His friends visited him and they enjoyed a little celebration, including ice cream. His favorite soccer team came to visit.

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There is one more day for the current cease-fire agreement. Look for Hamas to drag it out as long as possible, as it is in their best interests. I hope that more hostages are released and are in as good of shape as can be expected. I fear many hostages are dead now. The thought of such young children taken as hostages is unbelievable. There is a 10-month-old baby among those being held. Hamas are animals. They must be eliminated from the face of the earth. There is no true negotiating with them.

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Ed Morrissey 12:40 PM | November 21, 2024
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