Who Is Abigail Edan? 4-Year-Old American Hostage Held by Hamas May Be Freed

Abigail Edan, a 4-year-old girl, is among three American hostages expected to be released on Sunday as part of the landmark deal struck between Israel and Hamas.

Hamas led the deadliest Palestinian attack on Israel in history on October 7. Israel in response subsequently launched its heaviest airstrikes against Gaza. As of Sunday, at least 1,200 people have been killed in Israel, the Associated Press reported, citing the Israeli government. More than 13,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, the AP said.

The Israeli government approved a truce agreement—brokered by the United States, Qatar and Egypt—on Wednesday to secure the release of hostages kidnapped by Hamas . Under the deal, at least 50 Hamas hostages, all women and children who have been held captive for 46 days, are expected to be exchanged for about 150 Palestinian women and teenagers held in Israeli detention centers. There will also be a temporary four-day ceasefire in Gaza that could be extended.

U.S. National Security Council officials told reporters in a briefing call on Tuesday that three American citizens are expected to be among the 50 hostages released, including Edan.

Protesters wave Israeli flags and hold photos of people held hostage by Hamas in Gaza during a demonstration in London on Sunday. Abigail Edan, a 4-year-old girl, is among three American hostages expected to be released on Sunday as part of the landmark deal struck between Israel and Hamas.

JUSTIN TALLIS/AFP/

Edan, who recently celebrated her fourth birthday in captivity, is an Israeli-American girl whose parents were killed in Hamas' October 7 attack. She is expected to be among the women and children that could be released on Sunday, according to White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan .

In a Sunday interview with NBC News' Meet The Press, Sullivan was asked about the hostage release deal and revealed, while he could not confirm, there is "reason to believe" at least one of the three American hostages will be released today.

"We hope Abigail Edan will be released. We think it's long past time that this little girl, celebrated her fourth birthday, is back home with her family. Of course she tragically lost her parents in this vicious, brutal terrorist attack on October 7, but back with other family members. I'm not in a position sitting here at this moment to confirm that, but I will tell you that this is unfolding as we speak and hopefully any hour now we will know which of the Americans is out. We have a sense of who it is," he said.