President Joe Biden had a meeting at the White House on Wednesday with Abigail Edan, a four-year-old U.S. citizen. Abigail was part of the initial group of hostages that Hamas released from Gaza last November during a truce.
Abigail’s parents tragically lost their lives in the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7th. Despite the devastating loss, Abigail and her two siblings managed to survive the attack. However, Abigail was subsequently captured and taken captive into Gaza.
National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan emphasized the significance of meeting her, highlighting the ongoing issue of Americans and other individuals who remain captive under Hamas. He pledged relentless efforts to secure the safe return of all hostages to their families.
Abigail, the youngest American held captive by Hamas, endured a harrowing ordeal.
According to Sullivan, the Edan siblings continue to grapple with the tragedy of their parents’ passing, while Abigail still carries the emotional scars from her harrowing experience of being held captive for an extended period of time.
Sullivan described Biden’s meeting with Abigail as a moment of both relief and joy. He expressed his happiness that she was safely reunited with her family.
In a significant move, President Biden has signed a $95 billion aid bill for Ukraine and Israel. The bill also includes a provision related to TikTok, which could potentially lead to a sell-or-ban situation for the popular social media platform. This development underscores the growing concerns surrounding TikTok’s security and its ties to China. With this new legislation in place, the future of TikTok in the United States remains uncertain.
Abigail, who endured 51 days of captivity, was abducted on October 7th after she was discovered wandering near her family’s residence following the tragic loss of her parents at the hands of Hamas militants.
Over 130 hostages, including five Americans, are still thought to be held captive by Hamas in Gaza. Last year, over 100 hostages were released.
The Biden administration has been making efforts for months to establish a temporary cease-fire between Hamas and Israel. The main objective of this cease-fire is to facilitate the release of the remaining hostages. However, progress in this regard has unfortunately come to a standstill.
“I cannot comment on what prompted them to release the video,” Sullivan expressed. “However, it is important to emphasize that this is an innocent young man who is currently being held captive by a terrorist organization. He should be released immediately, with no conditions or further delays.”
Sullivan stated that he plans to reach out to Goldberg-Polin’s parents. The video is currently being evaluated by the FBI’s Hostage Fusion Recovery Cell, according to Sullivan.
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