Safe at last: Orphaned American-Israeli girl, 4, is seen for first time since being freed by Hamas after her parents were murdered by terrorists during October 7 massacre

An orphaned four-year-old Israeli-American abducted by Hamas after her parents' murder on October 7 has been seen for the first time since her Sunday release. 

Her grandfather, Carmel Edan, told Israeli media he couldn't believe it when he saw his granddaughter, Abigail Mor Edan, on her way back to Israel via Red Cross transport. Her release finally came after she wasn't included in Friday's and Saturday's exchanges.

'We were looking. She’s not there! What disappointment,' he said, according to The Times of Israel. 'Russian roulette. We were waiting on the second day. Again, Abigail isn’t there! We couldn’t believe it.'

While the family was happy that she has been released, they also know she is without her parents, who were murdered by Hamas terrorists on October 7. 

'Now I’m calm, but not completely calm because there is happiness, but there is also the absence of Roee and Smadar,' Carmel Edan said, calling their deaths 'an open wound that will never heal.'

Carmel Edan said that even though he is filled with joy that his granddaughter is now on her way home, he knows that 'there are many people who haven’t yet come back.' Abigail was the first American released in the negotiated cease-fire between Palestine and Israel. 

'I greatly want them to be returned and that the IDF finish what it has promised: All the hostages [back] and Hamas [destroyed],' he said. 

The grandfather has not been allowed to speak or meet with Abigail yet, but plans to smother her with kisses when they reunite. 

'There's nothing to say,' he added.  

Edan was one of 17 hostages released Sunday, 49 days after the war broke out and militants stormed her kibbutz in southern Israel.

Fighters gunned down her parents, Roy Edan, 43 and Smadar Edan, 40, in the attack.

The girl's siblings, aged ten and six, survived after hiding out for hours in the family home. Carmel Edan said he hasn't told them about their younger sister's release yet. 

Abigail, who celebrated her fourth birthday in captivity, is now in the hands of Red Cross officials. President Joe Biden said, after her release, that what the youngster has endured is 'unthinkable' and that she has suffered a 'terrible trauma.' 

'I wish I were there to hold her,' Biden said. 'Today she's free, and Jilly and I, together with so many Americans, are praying for the fact that she is going to be alright.' 

The grandfather thanked Biden saying: 'We love him very much for all the help he is giving us, to Israel. Keep going. Keep going. We don’t admire you. We love you.' 

The terror group has been keeping captives since its October 7 surprise attack on Israel that left more than 1,200 Israelis dead. Over 13,000 Palestinians have been killed in the Israeli counteroffensive.

State Department officials have yet to release the names of the other American hostages. A total of 10 Americans are currently unaccounted for.

Of the 17 hostages released Sunday, 14 were Israeli, while three were foreign citizens.

Appearing on ABC’s 'This Week,' National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said two women, one child and seven men were confirmed to have been taken by Hamas.

'All of these hostages have been through a terrible ordeal, and this is the beginning of a long journey of healing for them,' Biden said in an address from Nantucket, Massachusetts, where he was celebrating Thanksgiving.

Earlier that day, the president was briefed multiple times by his national security team on the latest developments regarding the hostage release from Gaza.

'This morning I've been engaged with my team as we begin the first difficult days of implementing this deal,' Biden said. 'It's only a start but so far it's gone well.'

He noted how the first group of hostages included 'an elderly woman, a grandmother and mothers with their young children, some under the age of six years old.' 

On Saturday, a disagreement over the delivery of aid to Gaza delayed the release of captives by several hours.

The Al-Qassam Brigades militant wing accused Israel of violating the agreed terms and demanded Israel commit to allowing aid trucks to enter northern Gaza for the first time in over a month.

The UN estimates that 1.7 million of the 2.3 million people living in Gaza have been displaced by the war. 

So far, 58 captives have been freed in the first three days of the truce, including several children. 

Thirteen Israeli civilians were let go along with 11 foreign nationals on Friday, followed by another 13 Israelis and four Thai nationals on Saturday.

This number does not include those released before the truce began. Two Americans, an Illinois mother and daughter, were freed last month.

Judith and Natalie Raanan, who have dual American-Israeli citizenship, were kidnapped from Nahal Oz together.

They were handed over to the Red Cross on October 20 before the organization passed them off to Israel.

On Tuesday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu asked his government to accept a deal for Hamas to free hostages in exchange for a multi-day truce.

A U.S. official said the deal would include 50 hostages taken from Israel, mostly women and children, in exchange for 150 Palestinian prisoners.

It took effect Friday, a day later than planned, and saw the adversaries agree to a four-day halt in the fighting. The deal was brokered by Qatar, the U.S. and Egypt.