Tag Archive for: hostages

First American Among Third Group Of Hostages Released By Hamas

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Hamas released a third group of hostages — including Abigail Edan, the first American — Sunday as the four-day ceasefire between Israel and the terrorist group continues.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed the status of the third group of hostages, stating that “based on the information” given by the Red Cross, 14 Israeli hostages and three foreign national hostages were released, according to an IDF post on X (formerly known as Twitter).

The release of hostages comes as a four-day ceasefire negotiated by the Qatari government was agreed to by Israel and Hamas. Within the terms of the agreement, Hamas agreed to release 50 hostages they kidnapped Oct. 7 in exchange for 150 Palestinians held in Israeli prison.

IDF authorities confirmed that “as of now” 13 of the hostages are within Israeli territory, with four additional hostages being released to the “Rafah Crossing.”  One of the 13 hostages was airlifted by helicopter to a hospital, according to CNN.

The Israeli prime minister’s office released some of the hostages’ names, showing nine hostages under 18 years of age. The two youngest are only four years old; there are four others between 40 and 84 years old, per Israeli officials.

Of the three foreign nationals identified is Abigail Edan, a four-year-old American dual citizen who was kidnapped Oct. 7 by Hamas in Israel, according to CNN. Edan’s parents were reportedly both killed in front of her during the attack, with her father reportedly using his body as a shield to protect the four-year-old, according to the outlet.

“She turned four just two days ago,” White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan stated on CNN prior to the confirmed release. “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.”

President Biden commented on the release of Edan, stating she is receiving the “supportive services she needs,” highlighting the “terrible trauma” she has been through.

“Today she’s free, and Jill and I — together with so many Americans — are praying for the fact that she is going to be alright.”

Edan is one of three American hostages reportedly determined to be among the 50 hostages to be released by Hamas, according to Sullivan, who stated the U.S. is still expecting two mothers. However, there is only one more day within the four-day truce and it is unclear if the U.S. has confirmed the two remaining Americans will be in the group released on Monday.

AUTHOR

HAILEY GOMEZ

General assignment reporter.

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EDITORS NOTE: This Daily Caller column is republished with permission. ©2023. All rights reserved.

Hamas Fighters Were Promised $10,000 And An Apartment For Taking A Hostage, Captured Terrorist Tells Israelis

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A captured Hamas terrorist told Israeli interrogators the terrorists were promised $10,000 and an apartment for taking hostages, The Jerusalem Post reported Monday.

“[W]hoever brings a hostage back [to Gaza] gets $10,000 and an apartment,” one captured Hamas fighter who stormed Israel on Oct. 7 told his interrogators, the outlet reported.

Israeli intelligence announced their interrogations resulted in a number of similar themes. While Hamas commanders remained in Gaza, all Hamas agents who breached Israel’s borders Oct. 7 were given instructions to kill and kidnap Israelis, The Jerusalem Post reported.

When it came to killing Israelis, the agents were reportedly told not to distinguish between civilians and soldiers. When the Hamas terrorists were pressed on whether Islam permitted the acts they carried out, they responded, “No. Islam does not permit the killing of women and children,” The Jerusalem Post noted.

Money given to terrorists for violent acts is not a new phenomena in the region. The Palestinian Authority, led by Hamas’ rival Fatah, has a “pay to slay” policy, where money is given to any terrorist (or their families) when they participate in terror attacks against Israelis.

Hamas’ invasion into southern Israel was also fueled by Hamas agents reportedly taking drugs to help enhance their combat performance. Israeli war aims following the invasion are reportedly the ousting of Hamas from power in the Gaza Strip and “the creation of a new security regime” in Gaza.

AUTHOR

ILAN HULKOWER

Contributor.

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EDITORS NOTE: This Daily Caller column is republished with permission. ©All rights reserved.

Crunch-Time for the Coalition

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What has Japan done?  Most of us can agree that for years Western European and North American democracies have received a considerable degree of criticism – and applied a considerable degree of self-criticism – based on our recent and far-distant historical actions. In Britain and France the carving up of the Ottoman empire keeps coming back to us. In America its post-World War II engagement in the Middle East has been the focus.

But as Islamic State (IS) paraded its two Japanese hostages on camera this week there should be some reflection on this. Since 1945 it would be hard to find a more pacific and careful nation in foreign policy, let alone expressions of national exceptionalism, than Japan. It is an important economy and an important voice in the family of nations. But if there was a country at the opposite end of the spectrum of ‘world policeman’ it would be post-World War II Japan.

And yet here this week were two of their nationals prone in precisely the same gruesome position that American and British hostages, among others, have found themselves in recent months.  This time it was their government having demands made of them and their leaders receiving the disorientating IS mixture of medievalist behaviour communicated via the most up-to-date technology.

As foreign ministers met in London to discuss how to deal with the IS threat this is a question worth mulling on. In the West we have media organisations and universities packed with people who wish to mull on our own foreign policy mistakes before mulling what to do about actual visible threats. A degree of self-criticism is of course a vital thing, and something which has distinguished our societies for centuries. Yet there is a time when such self-criticism becomes self-doubt, and self-doubt becomes a bar to action even in the easiest cases.

Such is the case with IS. President Obama has famously talked of containing IS, but as more and more nations around the world come face-to-face with the barbarism of IS it is easier than ever to gather international opinion to treat IS not as a problem that should be contained but as a threat that must be eliminated. It is very rare in international affairs to be able to single out any group or any action which is genuinely an affront to the entire international order and the whole community of nations – with their competing and international horse-trading arrangements. But IS is such a threat and such a challenge and it must be hoped that the foreign ministers meeting in London recognised that and can build a proper coalition to address that fact.

RELATED ARTICLE: ISIS Says Countdown For Japan’s Hostages has Begun