The Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) released 17 hostages held in Gaza on Sunday, including a 4-year-old American girl, while Israel is expected to release a third group of Palestinian prisoners in exchange. The International Committee of the Red Cross reported that it successfully transferred the 17 hostages from the Gaza Strip. Hamas stated that it passed on 13 Israelis, three Thais, and one Russian national.
The Palestinian news agency reported that the release of the hostages, part of a larger group taken by Hamas fighters during their attack on southern Israel on October 7, was in exchange for the release of 39 Palestinians, all of whom were minors. Hamas expressed its desire to extend the ceasefire if serious efforts are made to increase the number of Palestinian prisoners released by Israel.
U.S. President Joe Biden indicated his hope for the cessation of fighting between Israel and Hamas as long as the release of detainees continues. He also expressed a wish that Hamas would free more Americans but noted that he had no confirmed news on that front. He mentioned that Hamas had released a 4-year-old American girl, Abigail Aidan, who witnessed the murder of her parents by Hamas fighters during the group's attack on southern Israel and had been held hostage since then. During a press conference in the United States, Biden stated, "What she has endured is unimaginable."
Israeli Channel 13 reported that Abigail is en route to the hospital for examinations. Her grandfather, Carmel Aidan, told Reuters that he "couldn't believe" she was back and thanked Biden for all the help provided to them. The Palestinian news agency stated that a warm welcome awaited the released Palestinian prisoners in Ramallah.
Omar Abdullah Al-Hajj, a 17-year-old among those released, said he had no idea what was happening in the world outside prison. He told Reuters, "I can't believe I am free now, but my happiness is incomplete because of our brothers still in prison, along with all this news from Gaza that I should know now."
The four-day ceasefire in Gaza marks the first break in the war that erupted seven weeks ago between Israel and Hamas. The conflict began when Hamas militants invaded southern Israel on October 7, killing 1,200 people and capturing around 240 others, according to Israeli reports.
