ST. LOUIS — On Sunday, Hamas freed 17 more hostages. Among them was a 4-year-old girl, the first American citizen hostage to be released.
This latest release comes on the third day of a four-day ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, which is also allowing humanitarian aid into Gaza. A total of 58 hostages have been released so far, but 180 remain in Gaza, including 9 Americans. There's hope the truce could stretch longer to allow more hostages to be released.
In St. Louis, there's continued hope for peace.
It's a major step forward releasing the first American from Hamas on Nov. 26. Though President Joe Biden announced his administration still wants more during this four-day pause.
Abigail Edan is a 4-year-old American-Israeli citizen who has now been freed. She tragically lost both of her parents when they tried to save her in the Oct. 7 attacks just outside of Gaza.
"It is horrific," said Karen Sher, vice president of community impact for the Jewish Federation of St. Louis. "Every single life lost is horrific."
Edan is now in Israel in the hands of the Red Cross, according to Biden.
"She has been through a terrible trauma," the president said. "Her mom was killed in front of her when her kibbutz was attacked."
Edan's father was also shot and killed by Hamas militants while shielding her from the gunfire.
Sher has two daughters herself and said that Edan's story is tragic.
"I can't even imagine what she's coming home to and what she's going to be dealing with," Sher said. "Plus what she saw, what she remembers or what she doesn't remember. She's so young."
Taken by Hamas nearly seven weeks ago, Edan is just one of thousands of children caught in the international crosshairs.
"The plight of Abigail which we all, and I personally, sympathize with should shed light on the 200 Palestinian children who nobody is talking about," Executive Director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) Nihad Awad, said. "Children are children. They should not be touched. Families should not be touched."
CAIR has 33 offices across the country, including in Town and Country, focused on raising awareness and building connections between the Islamic community and its neighbors.
Palestinians are celebrating prisoners being released. Photos from the reunion show six women and 33 children freed from two prisons as part of an exchange deal with Israeli authorities.
A statement from the American Red Cross said in part: "The plight of people being held hostage and their loved ones is a top priority. The ICRC continues to pursue every possible avenue to secure the release of all remaining hostages, calling for urgent, immediate access to all those detained …"
"All children are the same," Awad said. "They should be protected, both Palestinians and Israelis. Not one side over the other."
Hamas has now released dozens of the more than 200 hostages.
"Each day, we pray that more of these hostages get released," Sher said.
For now, no permanent truce has been reached. The ceasefire will end on Tuesday.
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