A four-year-old Israeli-American girl who was kidnapped by Hamas during its 7 October attack in southern Israel was among the 17 hostages released by the group on Sunday.
Avigail Idan was just three at the time she was taken hostage from her home, where her parents were attacked and killed by Hamas gunmen.
She turned four while she was held hostage by Hamas.
Avigail’s family said: “We hoped and prayed today would come.”
“There are no words to express our relief and gratitude that Avigail is safe and coming home,” said Liz Hirsh Naftali, Avigail’s great aunt, and Noa Naftali, her cousin, in a statement.
They also thanked US president Joe Biden, the Qatari government and others who were involved in securing Avigail’s release and called for the remaining hostages to be released.
“We have to keep pushing. We will continue to stand with the families of all the hostages still held captive, and we remain committed as ever to securing their safe and swift return.”
Earlier, President Biden said Avigail had been through a “terrible trauma”, adding what she “endured is unthinkable”.
Speaking to reporters, he said those around Avigail will be surrounding her with “love and care.”
“Today she’s free, and Jilly [first lady of the US Jill Biden] and I, together with so many Americans, are praying for the fact that she is going to be alright,” he said.
President Biden said Sunday’s hostage releases were the result of “intensive US diplomacy”, adding he was hopeful that more American hostages will be released in the coming days.
“We continue to press and expect that additional Americans will be released as well,” he said, adding “we will not stop working until every hostage is returned to their loved ones”.
Fourteen of the 17 hostages were Israeli and three of them were Thai nationals. Nine of the Israelis were children.
Avigail was with her family in the Kfar Aza kibbutz on 7 October. Her parents were killed during the attack, while her two siblings hid and were later rescued. Her mother’s cousin told Sky News that Avigail’s father had been holding her when he was shot.
She survived and walked to the home of her neighbours, the Brodutch family, but was later abducted along with the family by Hamas.
Some members of the Brodutch family were among the hostages released on Sunday, including four-year-old Oria, his eight-year-old brother Yuval and their 10-year-old sister Ofri.
Their mother, 40-year-old Hagar Brodutch was also released.
Hagar’s father-in-law, Shmuel Brodutch, told Israel’s Channel 13 News: “The moment I heard they were in the hands of the Red Cross, I was relieved.”
He added: “I hope I can invest the same effort until the last captive returns. I am very happy, but I feel a great commitment to the other families until the last captive returns, including IDF soldiers.”
The other released hostages include Chen Almog-Goldstein, 48, and her children Tal, eight, Gal, 11, and Agam, 17, who were abducted from their homes in Kfar Aza on the day of the attack. Chen’s husband, Nadav, and their 20-year-old daughter, Yam, were killed by Hamas.
Also released were sisters Dafna and Ela Elyakim, aged 15 and eight respectively. They were taken from their home in Kibbutz Nir Oz on the day of the attack, and were part of a family group whose capture was live-streamed by the attackers themselves.
Their mother, Maayan Zin, said in a statement that she was happy her daughters had returned, adding that it was “a joy mixed with sadness”.
