President Biden met at the White House Wednesday with Abigail Edan, a 4-year-old who was held by Hamas in Gaza and was released last November as part of a hostage deal.
White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan told reporters the meeting was a moment of joy, as well as a reminder for Biden of the work that remains to be done as other hostages are still being held by Hamas months after its October terrorist attacks against Israel.
“This was a moment of joy as well because she was able to be returned safely to her family,” Sullivan said. “And I think for the president the most important thing was it was a reminder of the work still to do and how important it is for him personally and for the government to do all that we can to secure a cease-fire and hostage deal so that everybody can come home.”
Edan and her siblings’ parents were killed during the Oct. 7 terrorist attacks in Israel. Edan was the youngest U.S. citizen who was held hostage by Hamas following those attacks. She has dual Israeli-U.S. citizenship.
She was among the hostages released in November from Gaza as part of a temporary pause in fighting. Biden spoke with her family at the time.
The U.S. is still pushing for another pause in fighting between Israel and Hamas to get remaining hostages out safely and to allow for additional humanitarian aid to get into Gaza, where thousands of Palestinians have been killed during Israeli military operations in response to the Oct. 7 attacks.
Israeli officials have said more than 100 people are still being held in Gaza. As many as six of the hostages are U.S. citizens.