3:32 p.m. ET, November 26, 2023
4-year-old American hostage Abigail Edan freed, alongside mothers and their children. Here’s the latest
From CNN staff
Undated photo of Abigail Edan.
Elizabeth Hirsh Naftali
Another 17 hostages held in Gaza have been released on Sunday, the third such handover during a four-day truce between Israel and Hamas.
Thirteen of the freed hostages were Israeli, three were Thai nationals and one was a Russian-Israeli dual citizen, Israel’s military said.
Among the freed hostages was 4-year-old American-Israeli Abigail Edan — the youngest American hostage — whose release marks the first time an American hostage has been successfully freed since the start of the truce. US President Joe Biden, who praised Edan’s release in an address Sunday, spoke with the girl’s family Sunday afternoon, according to the White House.
The 4-year-old is now receiving treatment at a hospital near Tel Aviv, a spokesperson from the Hostage and Missing Families’ Forum told CNN.
Others freed included two mothers with children and a pair of siblings. Officials released a full list of the freed hostages’ names and ages.
If you’re just joining us, here are today’s other main headlines:
Palestinian teens released from Israel jails: Israel’s Prison Service has confirmed 39 prisoners and detainees from a total of seven Israeli prisons have been released as part of the deal between Israel and Hamas. All those released on Sunday are boys aged 18 and younger; two are 15, and one — the youngest released — is 14.
Biden hopes to extend pause: US President Joe Biden said in a news conference Sunday that his administration’s goal is to extend the pause in fighting in Gaza to try to ensure the safe release of more hostages and to get critical aid to civilians in the enclave.
Aid trucks enter Gaza: At least 120 aid trucks have entered Gaza through the Rafah border on Sunday, the Egyptian government has confirmed. The delivery of aid to Gaza has been a key factor in sustaining the truce and exchanges between Israel and Hamas.
Hostages leave hospital: A group of former hostages — members of two families — has been discharged from the Schneider Children’s Medical Hospital in Israel, the medical center announced Sunday. They are the first former hostages to be discharged.
Palestinians killed in West Bank: Eight Palestinians have been killed by Israeli gunfire in the occupied West Bank over the past 24 hours, the Palestinian Ministry of Health said in a statement on Sunday. CNN has asked the Israel Defense Forces for comment about the killings.
