4-year-old Israeli American hostage released to Red Cross

Abigail Edan, the 4-year-old American dual citizen abducted by Hamas on October 7, is in the hands of Red Cross officials, a senior US official told CNN – marking the first successful release of an American hostage since the start of a truce between Israel and Hamas. Edan is one of the 17 hostages being released Sunday.

The news comes after national security adviser Jake Sullivan told CNN’s Dana Bash that the Biden administration had “reason to believe” one of the Americans held hostage would be released Sunday.

“We’re dealing with Hamas. We are in a ‘don’t trust, but verify’ situation here. And so we have reason to believe that there will be an American release today,” Sullivan said on “State of the Union.”

“Today should be a good day, a joyful day, but until we actually see it happen, we are going to remain really at the edge of our seat,” Sullivan said.

Two American women are currently unaccounted for and are also expected to be part of the group of 50 women and children hostages released as part of a four-day truce, now in its third day.

“She turned 4 just two days ago,” Sullivan said of Edan. She has been through hell. She had her parents killed right in front of her and has been held hostage for the last several weeks,” Sullivan said. “But I am going to say that we have growing optimism about Abigail and we will now watch and see what happens.”

No Americans were released as part of the deal on Friday or Saturday. CNN reported earlier Sunday that at least one American is expected to be released today, according to an Israeli official. There are 10 unaccounted-for Americans at this time.

Twenty-four hostages — including 13 Israeli civilians and 11 foreign nationals — were freed on Friday, followed by 17 more — 13 Israelis and four Thai…