US President Joe Biden announced at a press conference that granted in Massachusetts that a 4-year-old American girl kidnapped by Hamas is among the hostages freed today.
“She is free and now in Israel,” Biden said, expressing hope that other Americans would be released soon.
This is Abigail Idan who turned 4 just two days ago. Her release was announced earlier by White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan, speaking to the NBC television network.
“We have reason to believe that a (American) hostage will be released today. But we won’t know for sure until we see her safe outside Gaza,” he added.
The child was kidnapped on October 7 by Hamas. “She saw her parents being killed in front of her eyes,” Sullivan said.
President Biden confirmed that he will soon speak with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
He also said his goal is to continue the ceasefire beyond Monday, at least as long as people are freed.
He expressed hope that other American hostages would be released. “We will not stop working until all the hostages are returned to their loved ones,” he assured.
According to American authorities, ten American citizens, including two women and little Abigail, are being held by Hamas. “We have no evidence of life on any of them,” Sullivan said earlier in another interview, on the ABC network.
