**Biden administration has “reason to believe” American will be released, confirming CNN reporting**
In a recent interview with CNN’s Dana Bash on “State of the Union,” national security adviser Jake Sullivan has confirmed that the Biden administration has “reason to believe” one of the Americans held hostage will be released on Sunday.
Sullivan stated, “We’re dealing with Hamas. We are in a ‘don’t trust, but verify’ situation here. And so we have reason to believe that there will be an American release today.” He also added, “Today should be a good day, a joyful day, but until we actually see it happen, we are going to remain really at the edge of our seat.”
These comments from Sullivan confirm previous reporting from CNN that an American citizen is due to be among those freed today. Two American women and one child, 4-year-old Abigail Edan, are currently unaccounted-for and are expected to be part of the group of 50 women and children hostages released as part a four-day truce, now in its third day. No Americans were released as part of the deal on Friday or Saturday, and ten Americans are unaccounted for in total.
Sullivan also expressed “growing optimism” that Edan will be returned, although he declined to provide a timeline. He stated, “We are now hopeful that Abigail will be released and reunited with her family. She turned four just two days ago. She has been through hell. She had her parents killed right in front of her and has been held hostage for the last several weeks.”
However, Sullivan acknowledged the difficulty in knowing the true status of the Americans being held. He said, “We cannot say for certain whether all three of them are still alive. But we do know this: we have reason to believe that today, one American will be released.”
The anticipated release of the American individual and the hope for the safe return of the remaining hostages are a source of cautious optimism for the Biden administration and the families who have been anxiously awaiting their loved ones’ safe return.