The US is “hopeful” that a four-year-old girl who is among three American hostages could be released Sunday, according to White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan.
In an interview with NBC’s Meet the Press on Sunday morning, Sullivan said two women and one young child could be released under the hostage deal that includes the release of women and children.
“We have reason to believe one of those Americans will be released today,” said Sullivan.
He did not specify the reason for that belief. But Sullivan said the White House is closely informed and following the unfolding events with caution “because we’re dealing with a terrorist group here.”
He was asked if one of the hostages released Sunday would be Abigail Mor Edan, four, an Israeli American whose parents were both killed in Hamas’s 7 October terrorist attack on Israel.
“We are hopeful that Abigail will be released,” added Sullivan. “We have a sense of who it is, but I just am not in a position to confirm it because we want to make sure the release goes off as indicated, as we expect.”
Sullivan’s remarks came as 13 hostages were expected to be released from Gaza on Sunday. An Israeli official confirmed to CNN that an American hostage is expected to be released, which would mark the first time a US national was released as part of the temporary ceasefire and hostage release deal.
As part of the deal, at least 50 hostages held by Hamas – all women and children who have been captive for 46 days – are expected to be released in exchange for about 150 Palestinian women and children prisoners held in Israel.
“We know that they were taken, and the next thing we learned is that they’re hostages. We’re living in the dark,” Liz Hirsh Naftali, Abigail’s great-aunt in the US told CBS News last week.
“They are literally in the dark. And we in America, Israeli families, have very little information and are also in the dark.”
Thirteen Israeli hostages and four Thailand nationals were released Saturday. All 41 foreign nationals released by Hamas so far have been reported to be in stable condition by medical professionals.
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