President Joe Biden announced that a four-year-old American girl has arrived safely in Israel after being released by Hamas on Sunday, urging the temporary truce between Israel and the Islamic group to be extended to allow for the release of more hostages. After Hamas announced the release of 17 hostages, Biden stated that the girl, named Abigail, is "free and she is in Israel." He added, "She is suffering from severe trauma," noting that she turned four while in captivity. Hamas had taken Abigail during its attack on Israel on October 7.
Under Qatari sponsorship, an agreement was reached for a four-day humanitarian ceasefire during which hostages held by Hamas would be exchanged for Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails. Biden said, "Today she is free; Jill (Biden) and many Americans are praying for her to be okay." He went on, "She is now safe in Israel, and we continue to press for the release of more Americans. We will not stop working until every hostage is returned to their loved ones."
Before Abigail's release, U.S. authorities reported that ten Americans, including two women and the mentioned girl, might still be held by Hamas. A senior Biden administration official, who requested anonymity, stated that Abigail's case has had a particular impact on Biden. The official noted that since the beginning of the conflict, "Biden has raised Abigail's case in nearly all of his phone calls with counterparts, including with the Emir of Qatar yesterday." Several witnesses have helped U.S. officials closely monitor Abigail's plight compared to other American hostages still in Gaza.
When asked about the potential timeline for the release of other American citizens, Biden, speaking from Massachusetts where he spent the Thanksgiving holiday, said, "I don’t have anything definitive to report to you at this moment."
Regarding Abigail, the U.S. official said, "We learned early from witnesses what happened. Her mother was killed in front of her, and her father tried to protect her before he was killed." The official added that Abigail fled to a nearby family's house, but the gunmen captured everyone and took them to northern Gaza. U.S. officials insisted on including Abigail’s name on an early list for release.
Her release on Sunday was accompanied by some excitement, as the convoy transporting Abigail and other hostages was redirected from the Rafah border point to a more direct route to Israel due to another released hostage, an 85-year-old woman needing urgent medical care.
Biden noted that Hamas has released 58 hostages during the current temporary truce due to what he called "intensive American diplomacy" undertaken by him and his administration officials communicating with Israel, Qatar, Egypt, and other parties. Responding to a question about how long he would like to see the fighting paused, he said, "As long as prisoners continue to come out." He expressed that "this is my goal, and our goal is for this truce to extend beyond tomorrow so that we can see the release of more hostages and more humanitarian aid" to the Gaza Strip.
He added, "I have a feeling that all parties in the region are looking for a way to end this until all hostages are released. Hamas no longer fully controls Gaza." He also noted the humanitarian benefits of ceasing hostilities, stating that hundreds of aid trucks have been able to enter the besieged Gaza Strip to provide urgently needed food, water, medicine, and fuel. Biden emphasized that the ongoing three-day truce "is resulting in life-saving outcomes," speaking about "the critically needed assistance and the hostages being released."
On Sunday, Biden held phone consultations with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Pressure is mounting on the U.S. president, Israel's first ally, especially due to the high toll of casualties from Israeli bombings in the Gaza Strip and the limited number of American hostages released so far. Republican Senator Thom Tillis expressed "great relief" at Abigail's release without mentioning Biden, but noted that Keith Siegel, a citizen from South Carolina, which Tillis represents, is still being held by Hamas.
