A 4-year-old American girl and 16 other hostages arrived back in Israel as the third wave of hostages released by Hamas terrorists under a temporary ceasefire deal between Israel and the terrorist organization.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) released a statement Sunday, saying, “Based on information that was received from the Red Cross, 14 Israeli hostages and three foreign national hostages have been transferred to the Red Cross.”
The Times of Israel reported that the third wave of Israeli hostages released by Hamas terrorists included Abigail Idan, age 4; Hagar Brodetz, age 40, and her children Ofri, age 10, Yuval, age 9, and Oriya, age 4; Chen Almog Goldstein, age 48, and Agam, age 17, Gal, age 11, and Tal, age 9; Alma Avraham, age 84; Aviva Siegel, age 64; sisters Ela, age eight and Dafna, age 15, and Elyakim; Roni Krivoi, age 25, a dual Russian-Israeli national.
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According to The Daily Wire, Abigail Idan just turned four while being kept as a hostage by Hamas terrorists. Idan is a dual citizen of Israel and the United States. The Daily Wire reported that both of Idan’s parents were killed by Hamas terrorists in Kfar Aza kibbutz during the brutal Hamas terrorist attacks on Oct. 7.
“Great news, four-year-old American Abigail Idan has been released!” Journalist Yashar Ali tweeted. “Both of Abigail’s parents were murdered by Hamas terrorists. Abigail is a dual citizen of the United States and Israel.”
CBS News reported that President Joe Biden addressed the release of Idan during Sunday remarks on television.
“She’s free and she’s in Israel now,” Biden said. The president explained that the 4-year-old child had “been through a terrible trauma.”
According to CBS News, Hamas terrorists killed Idan’s mother in front of her, while her father was killed while sacrificing his own body to shield Idan from Hamas attackers. “What she endured is unthinkable,” Biden added.
The Daily Wire reported that prior to the release of 17 hostages on Sunday, the first wave of 13 Israeli hostages was released on Friday, followed by a second wave of 13 hostages on Saturday.
The release of Israeli hostages was part of a deal between Israel and Hamas that included the release of at least 50 women and children held hostage in Gaza, the release of roughly 150 Palestinian women and teenagers imprisoned in Israel, and a temporary ceasefire to allow humanitarian aid to enter Gaza and Palestinians to return to their homes, according to CBS News.
