BREAKING: American 4-year-old orphan girl released from Gaza after ceasefire deal
She tragically became an orphan after her parents were slain during the attack.
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She tragically became an orphan after her parents were slain during the attack.
Joe Biden has confirmed the release of the first American hostage from Hamas captivity in Gaza. The 4-year-old girl was kidnapped by Hamas during a surprise attack on Israel on Oct. 7, and tragically became an orphan after her parents were slain during the attack, reports The New York Post. Many more are still being held. The first hostages were released after a ceasefire arrangement and a swap of hostages for Palestinian criminals held in Israeli jails.
Two other Americans were set to be released, according to The Post, but it is not yet immediately clear whether or not that has occurred.
"Thank God she's home," Biden said of the little girl. "I wish I was there to hold her."
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View on XBiden also said that she is getting the love, care and “the supportive services she needs” and that he is “hopeful this is not the end of the temporary truce,” reports CNN. He also said that she "has been through a terrible trauma" and that the things she had endured were "unthinkable."
The girl is currently in Israel, according to Biden, who said he will be speaking with Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to work on bringing more hostages home.
Alongside the young girl, who is an Israeli-American, 14 Israeli hostages were released, as were two foreign nationals.
"She’s free and she’s in Israel now," Biden said at a Sunday press conference about the girl's release, per CNBC. "Those who are wrapping Abigail in love and care and the supportive services she needs, she’s been through a terrible trauma."
Prior to Biden's remarks, US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan hesitated to say that the girl had been safely released.
"I want to be cautious about making any firm statements until we actually see that individual crossed the border to safety," he had said on CNN’s "State of the Union." "But I am going to say that we have growing optimism about Abigail."
Sullivan said on NBC's "Meet the Press" that "If Hamas is prepared to release additional hostages, Israel has indicated as part of this agreement that it is prepared for additional days in a pause to the fighting."
This is a breaking story and will be updated.
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