On Oct. 7, she witnessed her dad and mom’ homicide, earlier than being kidnapped. On Friday, almost seven weeks later, she spent her fourth birthday whereas beneath captivity. And on Sunday, she was lastly freed, as one of many hostages Hamas launched beneath a take care of Israel.
Her identify is Avigail Idan. Avigail, whose identify has additionally been spelled “Abigail” in U.S. media stories, is a twin citizen of Israel and the US, and was among the many roughly 240 folks, together with round 10 Americans, taken as hostages by Hamas on Oct. 7.
In a press release after Avigail’s launch, Liz Hirsh Naftali and Noa Naftali, her great-aunt and cousin, stated they’d “hoped and prayed right this moment would come.”
“There aren’t any phrases to specific our aid and gratitude,” they stated, thanking President Biden and the Qatari authorities, which helped dealer the cease-fire deal.
Avigail’s case has obtained large consideration, significantly in the US, the place a number of of her relations are primarily based in California. President Biden expressed aid over the information of her launch on Sunday.
“Thank God she’s residence,” Mr. Biden instructed reporters in Nantucket, Mass., on Sunday. “I want I used to be there to carry her.”
Avigail’s dad and mom, Roy Idan, 43, and Smadar Idan, 38, had been fatally shot on the Kfar Aza kibbutz within the October assault. The household has stated that Mr. Idan was holding Avigail in his arms when he was killed, whereas her siblings, Michael and Amelia, watched the tragedy unfold.
Lined in her father’s blood, Avigail ran towards a neighbor, her aunt, Tal Idan, stated. The neighbor introduced Avigail into his residence to cover together with his spouse and kids after which left the home to discover a gun. “Ten minutes later, when he obtained again, all had been gone,” Ms. Idan stated. Ms. Idan and her husband, Amit Idan, have been caring for Avigail’s siblings, who survived the assault.
Whereas a number of hostages have been reunited with their family members within the three days for the reason that cease-fire started, many households are nonetheless ready for information about their relations who stay in captivity.
Hersh Goldberg-Polin, 23, a U.S. citizen, is likely one of the folks nonetheless being held by Hamas. Mr. Goldberg-Polin, who was born in Berkeley, Calif., was at a music competition close to the Gaza border in southern Israel when Hamas attacked on Oct. 7. Members of his household consider he’s in determined want of medical consideration as a result of a part of his arm was blown off by a grenade the assailants threw earlier than abducting him.
On Sunday, his father, Jon Polin, was anxiously awaiting information concerning his son. However he stated he was “thrilled” for each hostage who has been launched to this point and for his or her households.
“We hostage households have discovered ourselves type of changing into one other type of a household,” he stated. “So it truly is private, regardless that I don’t know the hostages themselves, aside from my son.”
“I’m actually blissful that they’re being reunited with their family members,” Mr. Polin added. “That being stated, I need my son residence and I need the entire hostages residence.”
Katherine Rosman contributed reporting.
