Family of Youngest American Held Hostage by Hamas Wishes for Her Return on Fourth Birthday

The family of Abigail Mor Edan, the youngest American held hostage by Hamas, wishes for her to return on her fourth birthday on Friday.

Edan's parents were killed in the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel.

Edan's Family Wishes for Her Return

BRITAIN-ISRAEL-PALESTINIAN-CONFLICT — Ballons and banners are picturing during a gathering outside the office of the NGO Save The Children International, in London, on November 17, 2023 for the 9th birthday of Irish-Israeli girl Emily Hand held hostage by Palestinian militant group Hamas in Gaza. About 1,200 people, mostly civilians, were killed in Israel and and around 240 people taken hostage, according to Israeli officials following the Hamas attack of October 7, 2023. Israel has vowed to eradicate Hamas in retaliation for October 7 assault. Its relentless bombardment and growing ground offensives has left more than 11,500 people dead, mostly civilians and including thousands of children, according to Gaza's Hamas-run health ministry. DANIEL LEAL/AFP via Getty Images

The US-designated terrorist organization released women and children as part of an agreement with Israel. Her family was hoping Edan would be one of the children released.

Edan's great-aunt, Liz Hirsh Naftali, said that their family was not sure whether or not Edan would be released, but they were hoping that the child could come home for her fourth birthday.

On Wednesday, she said they had not heard anything from the news or press yet. She added that they had been praying that Edan would be in one of the first groups, and that was what they had been hoping.

The family said that they still had not seen the list or heard any confirmation, and they were all hoping that she would be released immediately as she was only three years old, and no child should be held captive.

Noa Naftali, Edan's cousin, said, "Every day, 46 days, since October 7, has felt like October 7 for us as we wonder and pray and as our hearts are with our little cousin."

Naftali said that Edan was held captive in Gaza with their neighbors from the Kfar Aza kibbutz, where she, her parents, and her siblings resided. She noted that Edan's parents were killed in front of her and two other older siblings and Edan ran outside to her father, who picked her up but was killed while holding her.

Furthermore, she said that Edan's older siblings remained alive by locking themselves inside a closet for 14 hours.

Edan survived when her father used his body to shield Edan, and she crawled out from underneath him and went over to their neighbor, who took her but was also taken hostage.

Israel-Palestine Agreement

On Wednesday morning, the deal was approved by Israel's government, which was to free at least 50 Israeli hostages in exchange for 150 Palestinian women and minors in Israeli prison on security offenses.

Israel's government also agreed to a four-day humanitarian pause in the war against Hamas in Gaza, which could also be extended.

There were approximately 240 hostages held by Hamas and other terrorist organizations in Gaza. The hostages were abducted during the October 7 attack in which 1,200 people were killed.

The recent protests include tens of thousands of Israelis marching from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem last week, calling to free the hostages.

The crowd in the protest blocked a boulevard, but police made no effort to disperse the crowd. "It is not like the judicial reforms. These are Israeli citizens captive in Gaza, it is much more important," a driver of a stalled Egged bus said.