Biden meets 4-year-old Abigail Mor Edan, the youngest American hostage released by Hamas

2024-12-25 10:19:36 source: category:Back

Washington — President Biden on Wednesday met 4-year-old Abigail Mor Edan, an American girl who was taken hostage by Hamas after both her parents were killed in the group's Oct. 7 attack. 

The president met with Abigail at the White House, national security adviser Jake Sullivan said. Her parents were killed by militants when she was kidnapped. Her mother was shot in front of her and her father was gunned down using his body to shield her. 

A dual U.S.-Israeli citizen, Abigail turned 4 in captivity. She was held by the Gaza-based militant group for 50 days and was the youngest American hostage to be released.

Sullivan said meeting Abigail was a "reminder in getting to see her that there are still Americans and others being held hostage."

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by President Joe Biden (@potus)

After the girl's release in November, her aunt told CBS News the family was overjoyed to have her back, and was surrounding her "with love and care." Abigail's siblings, who were 6 and 10 years old at the time of the attack, survived by locking themselves in a closet, according to her family. 

The president has called what Abigail endured "unthinkable." 

"Thank God she's home," Mr. Biden told reporters after the little girl was released. "I wish I were there to hold her."

Hamas — long designated a terrorist group by the U.S. and Israel — released a video Wednesday that appeared to show Hersh Goldberg-Polin, an Israeli-American hostage, delivering a long statement clearly crafted by the group.

There are five unaccounted American hostages who are presumed to be living, according to a U.S. official. All five are male.

Margaret Brennan contributed to this report.

Kathryn Watson

Kathryn Watson is a politics reporter for CBS News Digital based in Washington, D.C.

More:Back

Recommend

2 striking teacher unions in Massachusetts face growing fines for refusing to return to classroom

BOSTON (AP) — Two of the three striking teacher unions in Massachusetts have been fined for refusing

These 12 Christmas Decor Storage Solutions Will Just Make Your Life Easier

We independently selected these deals and products because we love them, and we think you might like

Off-duty police officer is killed in North Carolina after witnessing a crime at a gas station

GREENSBORO, N.C. (AP) — An off-duty police officer was shot and killed in North Carolina after witne