4-year-old Israeli American Hostage Safely Released to Red Cross
Amidst ongoing hostage situation, the Biden administration holds hope for the release of a 4-year-old Israeli American, bringing a glimmer of relief Efforts to provide humanitarian aid in Gaza continue amidst the crisis
Abigail Edan, the 4-year-old American dual citizen who was kidnapped by Hamas on October 7, has been handed over to Red Cross officials, according to a senior US official who spoke with CNN. This marks the first successful release of an American hostage since the Israel-Hamas truce began. Edan is one of 17 hostages being released on Sunday.
The news follows national security adviser Jake Sullivan's statement to CNN's Dana Bash that the Biden administration had "reason to believe" that one of the American hostages would be released on Sunday.
"We are engaging with Hamas. We find ourselves in a situation where trust is limited, so verification is key. Based on our information, we anticipate an American release today," Sullivan stated on "State of the Union."
"Today is expected to be a positive and celebratory day, but until we witness it actually happening, we will remain on edge," Sullivan added.
Two American women are currently missing and are anticipated to be among the group of 50 women and children hostages who were released as part of a four-day truce, now in its third day.
"Sullivan said of Edan, "She just turned 4 two days ago. She has been through a lot. Her parents were killed right in front of her and she has been held hostage for the past few weeks," Sullivan said. "But I can say that we are feeling more hopeful about Abigail and we will now wait and see what happens."
Undated photo of Abigail Edan.
Elizabeth Hirsh Naftali
There were no Americans released in the deal on Friday or Saturday. According to an Israeli official, at least one American is expected to be released today. Currently, there are 10 unaccounted-for Americans.
Twenty-four hostages, including 13 Israeli civilians and 11 foreign nationals, were released on Friday. An additional 17 hostages, 13 Israelis and four Thai nationals, were freed on Saturday as part of a deal brokered between Hamas and Israel. Medical professionals have reported that all 41 foreign nationals released by Hamas from captivity in Gaza are in stable condition.
Sullivan mentioned the challenge of accurately assessing the status of the Americans who were taken captive in Gaza during Hamas' violent cross-border assault on October 7.
"It is uncertain whether all three of them are still alive, but we have reason to believe that today, one American will be released," he stated. Omer Neutra, a dual US-Israeli citizen, is one of the IDF soldiers taken by Hamas, as confirmed by his parents to CNN. Sullivan has been forthright with Neutra's parents and the parents of other American captives.
"I informed them directly that we do not have specific information about the whereabouts or condition of Omer or other Americans. Until the end of tomorrow, we will not have proof of life or other information from the Red Cross. As we receive this information, we will definitely share it with the parents," Sullivan said.
Sullivan also discussed Hamas agreeing to allow the Red Cross to visit the remaining hostages in Gaza and stated that the US is working with Qatari and Egyptian officials to ensure this happens by the end of Monday.
"We are confident that Hamas has agreed to uphold their commitment to allow the Red Cross to visit the hostages. We urge Qatar, Egypt, and other countries to ensure that Hamas follows through on this commitment by tomorrow," stated Sullivan.
Sullivan also mentioned that Israel is willing to continue the ceasefire if Hamas releases 10 hostages each day, stating, "The decision is now up to Hamas."
Sullivan stated that if Hamas wishes to extend the ceasefire, it must continue to release hostages. He emphasized that if the group chooses not to release hostages, the responsibility for ending the ceasefire lies with Hamas, not Israel. He condemned Hamas for holding the hostages illegitimately and in violation of human decency and the laws of war. He added that the actions of Hamas will determine the next steps.
In addition to providing care for the released hostages and reuniting them with their families, Israeli officials will gather information about Hamas during the debriefings with the former hostages.
Humanitarian aid into Gaza
"Israel is prioritizing gathering as much information as possible about the whereabouts, locations, and other details from the conversations with the recently released hostages in the coming days," he stated.
Sullivan provided information on the inspection process for humanitarian aid entering Gaza, explaining that the Israelis ensure that the supplies are solely for humanitarian purposes and not supporting Hamas' military efforts before crossing into Rafah.
The aid trucks are then sent to United Nations depots and other trusted humanitarian organizations. From there, the aid is distributed directly to the people.
As humanitarian aid has increased, we have witnessed its effectiveness in reaching people without being diverted to Hamas. However, this remains an ongoing focus. On the first day of the pause, the United Nations reported that 137 trucks carrying aid, including 129,000 liters of fuel and four trucks of gas, were delivered to Gaza, marking the largest humanitarian convoy since October 7. An additional 70 trucks filled with food, water, fuel, and medical supplies entered Gaza through the Rafah crossing the following day, according to a border crossing spokesperson.
Biden is maintaining close communication with both Israel and UN leadership to guarantee that aid is reaching the innocent people who are suffering. Sullivan refrained from commenting on Israeli politics, but mentioned that Biden's relationship with Prime Minister Netanyahu has been beneficial.
Sullivan said he will continue to prioritize high-level direct diplomacy between leaders and leave others to handle the political considerations. This report includes contributions from CNN's Kaitlan Collins and Jack Forrest.
