Heartwarming photos show the first moments a 4-year-old Israeli American girl was reunited with relatives after spending nearly 50 days as a hostage of Hamas.
Abigail Edan, who turned 4 in captivity Nov. 24, was released Sunday night into the arms of her aunt and grandmother at the Hatzerim Air Force Base.
She was one of 17 hostages returned Sunday — and the first American citizen released under a fragile temporary cease-fire agreement between Israel and the terror group.
A photo of the reunion posted Monday on the official X account of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu shows the young girl draped in a blue and white blanket — the colors of Israel’s flag — as her smiling aunt cradles her.
More photos released by Schneider Children’s Medical Center show young Abigail beaming while surrounded by family, including her aunt Liron and uncle Zuli and her grandparents Eitan and Shlomit.
Read Related Also: Former Liberal MP makes shock return to politics
In one picture Abigail, grinning ear to ear, sits in her aunt’s lap and holds her hand while wearing a pink sweatshirt that says “Love Smile Be” in the shape of a heart.
Abigail became a globally recognized figure during her captivity, symbolizing the depravity of Hamas for putting such a young and innocent child in harm’s way.
Hamas killed both of Abigail’s parents in front of her and her two older siblings in their home at the Kfar Aza kibbutz Oct. 7. Her great-aunt Liz Hirsch Naftali told NBC that the children’s father was gunned down as he held Abigal in his arms, falling on top of her as he died.
She then crawled out from under his body, covered in blood, and ran to a neighbor’s house, where she found temporary refuge in their bomb shelter until everyone in the house was taken hostage soon after.
President Biden, speaking to reporters from Nantucket on Sunday, said “Thank god she’s home. … I wish I was there to hold her.”
