With the first group of hostages to be released Thursday by Hamas terrorists in Gaza, the family of 3-year-old Abigail Edan hopes to be reunited with her before her birthday Friday.
The Israeli-American toddler was with her parents and two siblings in their home when Hamas raided Israel on Oct. 7, going house to house and killing everyone in their path.
“The one thing that we all hold on to is that hope now that Abigail comes home, she comes home by Friday,” Liz Hirsh Naftali, Abigail’s great aunt, told CNN. “Friday is her 4th birthday. We need to see Abigail come out and then we will be able to believe it.”
“For our family, we have spent the last seven weeks … worrying, wondering, praying, hoping,” she said.
Both of Abigail’s parents were killed in the initial attack. Her 6-year-old sister and 10-year-old brother escaped abduction by hiding in a closet for 14 hours, Ms. Naftali said.
She told NBC News that the toddler was in her father’s arms when he was shot and killed.
“Abigail had actually crawled out from underneath her father’s body,” she said. “And, full of his blood, went to a neighbor and they took her in.”
The last thing they heard was that the family the toddler was with was taken hostage.
Three Americans, including Abigail, could be among the first to be released, officials have said after the Israeli government and Hamas announced a four-day pause of fighting in Gaza. Hamas is expected to release 50 hostages, while Israel releases some 150 Palestinian prisoners. Women and children will be the first to be freed on both sides.
“Today’s deal should bring home additional American hostages, and I will not stop until they are all released,” President Biden said in a statement Tuesday.
Hamas officials told regional media that the deal will start at 10 a.m. Thursday. The first hostages are expected to be released the same day.
Israeli officials said they would extend the pause for every additional 10 hostages released.
“After difficult and complex negotiations for many days, we announce, with the help and success of the Almighty God, that we have reached a humanitarian cease-fire agreement for a period of four days, with constant and appreciated efforts of Qatar and Egypt,” Hamas said in a statement.
More than 240 people were abducted by Hamas during the terrorist raid.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said Israel will continue to fight the war against Hamas in Gaza, and that the pause does not mean they are done fighting.
“We are at war, and we will continue the war,” Mr. Netanyahu said. “We will continue until we achieve all our goals.”
• Mallory Wilson can be reached at mwilson@washingtontimes.com.
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