Four-Year-Old Abigail Freed After Four Years of Horror and Trauma
In an emotional speech, US President Joe Biden announced the release of Abigail Mor Edan, a four-year-old girl who carries both Israeli and American citizenship. Having suffered a "terrible trauma," Abigail is now back in Israel after being kidnapped and held hostage by Hamas in the Gaza Strip for four years.
Biden's heartfelt remarks were made during a speech in Massachusetts. Describing Abigail's harrowing story, the president shared that she was among 240 individuals, including her parents, who were taken hostage by Hamas on October 7. Tragically, Abigail had the awful experience of witnessing her parents' murder by terrorists in an attack on Israeli villages.
Despite the end of the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, which will terminate on Monday evening, Biden expressed the US's commitment to securing the release of all hostages and peace in the region. As of now, ten US citizens, including Abigail and her family, are believed to have been kidnapped by Hamas.
The radical Islamic group Hamas, notorious for engaging in terror activities against Israel, was responsible for Abigail's captivity. Following the deadly attack on Israel, which claimed the lives of more than 1,200 people, Israel retaliated with massive attacks on Gaza. The conflict has resulted in the death of over 14,000 Palestinians ever since.
While little is known about Abigail's experiences within the captivity of Hamas, we can speculate about the challenges she and other hostages face:
- Inhumane Conditions: Hostages, including children, are often forced to endure dark, cramped tunnels with limited exposure to sunlight, leading to potential vision and skin issues.
- Nutritional Deficiencies: Hostages may experience mild starvation and vitamin deficiencies, resulting from poor or nonexistent medical care.
- Lasting Psychological Scars: The traumatizing experience of captivity can leave deep psychological scars, causing hostages to remain wary of people and struggle to adjust to their new environment.
- Reintegration Challenges: Upon release, hostages face challenges in regaining control over their lives, involving gradual changes in eating habits, sleeping patterns, and interactions with family and the media.
As Abigail begins her journey towards healing, we can only hope for her to overcome the trauma she has faced and reclaim her sense of security and peace.
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Above are hypothetical scenarios and conditions that hostages might endure, without definitive evidence. However, these are common challenges faced by hostages after being released from captivity.]
