Last updated: 28.11.2023, 06:04 a.m.
By: Julia Stanton
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Four-year-old Avigail spent fifty days in the hands of Hamas. Now she is finally reunited with her family, but she will never see her parents again.
Gaza – Four-year-old Avigail Idan witnessed the horrors of her parents being shot dead by Hamas militants on October 7. She herself survived because she hid under her father's corpse and was then able to flee to a neighbor's house.
There, however, she was taken hostage by Hamas along with her neighboring family, according to the Washington Post. Now the horror has come to an end: Avigail is reunited with her remaining family after 50 days in captivity. She is one of 17 hostages released by Hamas on Sunday, November 26. A total of about 240 hostages had been abducted by the radical Islamic terrorist group Hamas, including several children.
Family of released hostage: "We hoped and prayed"
"We hoped and prayed that today would come," her cousin Noa Naftali and her great-aunt Liz Hirsh Naftali said in a statement after their release. "There are no words to express our relief and gratitude that Avigail is safe." The young girl will now live with her siblings with her aunt, uncle and grandparents in Israel.
Avigail, who is often referred to as "Abigail" in U.S. media reports, is both an Israeli and a U.S. citizen. She was the first American hostage released by Hamas as part of an agreement with the Israeli military. The U.S. government was involved in brokering the agreement in mid-November.
Germans also among the free hostages
U.S. President Joe Biden was also saddened by the fate of the young Avigail. In a press conference, he said that he and his wife, along with many Americans, were praying for her to be well.
The president also said that he would continue to seek the release of other Americans: "The proof that it works and that it is worth moving on is in every smile and every grateful tear that we see on the faces of these families who are finally coming back together," Biden said. "The proof is little Abigail." Former U.S. President Donald Trump is critical of the agreement between Israel and Hamas.
Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock also commented on the release of hostages. On Platform X, she announced that four Germans were among the released hostages.
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"I think of them and of those who are still in the hands of Hamas. We are working with all our might to ensure that they too will soon be free," Baerbock wrote.
Israel and Hamas exchange hostages – thanks to deal, girl believed to be dead is also released again
150 Palestinian prisoners were to be exchanged for 50 Israeli hostages during a ceasefire, the Israeli government had agreed with the radical Islamic group Hamas. Since Friday, November 24, 37 of the 240 hostages have been released so far, ZDF reports. In return, Israel has so far released about 78 Palestinian prisoners. Among the released Israeli hostages is 9-year-old Emily Hand, who was initially believed to be dead.
The girl's father had publicly campaigned for his daughter's release and drawn international attention to the case. In an emotional video shortly after the Hamas attack, he said that he wished his daughter dead. Because imprisonment in the clutches of Hamas is worse than death. The next hostage handover is scheduled to take place on Monday, November 27. (jus)