Abigail Mor Edan, Youngest U.S. Citizen Held by Hamas, Released as Part of Cease-Fire Agreement

On Sunday, Abigail Mor Edan, the youngest U.S. citizen held by Hamas, was released as part of a cease-fire and hostage exchange agreement between Israel and the militant group. Abigail was four years old when she was taken captive by Hamas and spent her fourth birthday in captivity.

The release of Abigail and 17 other hostages was confirmed by both President Biden and the Israeli military. Abigail’s name had appeared on a list of hostages that Hamas previously said it planned to release on Sunday, according to Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani.

Abigail’s parents were killed in Hamas’ Oct. 7 attacks on Israel, according to an exclusive interview in Washington with NBC News’ Lester Holt earlier this month. Her great-aunt Liz Hirsh Naftali revealed that the little girl’s parents were killed in their home at the Kfar Aza kibbutz.

The release of Abigail and the other hostages is part of a fragile truce between Israel and Hamas, which has seen Israel release Palestinian prisoners and allow aid into the Gaza Strip. The agreement was reached after multiple sources indicated to Brennan that no release was certain.