Saving Abigail: The True Story of the Abduction and Rescue of a Three-Year-Old Hostage

by Liz Hirsh Naftali

This is the dramatic story of what happened to an innocent three-year-old child on October 7, 2023, and one family member’s great efforts to rescue her from Hamas terrorists.

Saving Abigail is a true story about a little girl taken hostage by Hamas the morning of October 7, 2023, after thousands of terrorists breached Israel by land, sea, and air. That day, Hamas slaughtered 1,200 men, women, and children, and 246 innocent people were dragged across the border into Gaza against their will.

Among them was three-year-old Abigail Mor Edan, whose border community was ransacked by fighters going from house to house and killing, raping, and abducting civilians from their homes. Abigail’s mother and father were murdered in front of their children, and Abigail—the youngest—was abducted.

With no prior experience or road map for how to save a hostage from captivity, Abigail’s great aunt Liz Hirsh Naftali undertook an international effort to share her niece’s face and story—with the US government, bipartisan congressional leaders, and world leaders—finding unlikely allies and supporters along the way. Though not a diplomat, politician, or military expert, Liz was determined to extricate this child from an ongoing geopolitical nightmare and free her from the Hamas terrorists who held her.

Genres: Israel, Nonfiction, History

240 pages, Paperback

Published September 9, 2024

Reviews

[Karen Sanchez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heartbreaking and there are moments when I had to stop reading due to sobbing but important to read about October 7 from this perspective. Was very interesting to read about Israel and the broader perspective and also about all President Biden and his team did and are doing to try to bring home the hostages. I see some other reviews say this was political but I didn’t find that to be the case. I thought author explained very well the bipartisan support she received and relationships made necessary to try to work towards bringing 3 year Abigail home from terrorists.

[LDavis · Rating 1 out of 5]

A book written about a woman friend of Biden, Pelosi. I want a refund.

I wasn’t expecting a mushy love story about Democrat connections. I pray for all the murdered hostages who were brutalized and raped.

[Gwen B. Arthur · Rating 3 out of 5]

Would not have purchased had I known in advance that author was a democrat activist. I pray for the hostages.

[I like what I like · Rating 2 out of 5]

October 7, 2023 was a devastating display of some of the most evil people in the world. It saddens and angers me how so many in the U.S. have been poisoned to believe that Israel is the aggressor and Hamas (terrorists), and therefore Gaza Palestinians are the victims. Abigail’s story is heart wrenching and it is wonderful that she was released from captivity. I appreciate that the author made a few references to Republicans sometimes working with Democrats to facilitate the hostage releases. I found the book hard to read, though, with all the name dropping and political opinions. The country is horribly polarized and it saddens me.

[Carolyn · Rating 2 out of 5]

Fascinating story about the horrors and aftermath of October 7th, but tainted by unnecessary political schmoozing. As a deep-pocketed Democratic activist, the author had amazing access to powerful people that the rest of us peasants couldn't imagine. Money along with its accompanying influence frees hostages, apparently. Glad so many hostages got out alive and glad the author could help, but the biggest lesson of this book is that oligarchs are alive and well, are on a first-name basis with politicians, and are on the left side of the aisle, no matter what Bernie says. The author's fawning acknowledgment of politicians was the longest chapter in the book. It was all too self-congratulatory. I'd skip it.

[Shannon · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a great story and one we should all read and embrace. What I didn’t find appealing is it seemed a bit heavy on the author’s professional and DC work and connections. I know some of this was germane to the context of the story, but at times felt self-promotional, which I felt detracted from the story.

[Lynne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fascinating & personal well-told story in Gaza of hostages and murder

Well told personal story of war-time hostages and killings that we had read in great detail in the news. This one family story needed to be shared and no doubt belongs to other families, yet remains untold. This is a must read book for multiple ages.

[Stephanie Sztanski · Rating 5 out of 5]

Abigail

In her heart Liz Naftali knew she must embark on a mission to see that Abigail was set free. She took action. Beautifully written with true git and love. You are admired.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a heart wrenching story. Thank you for your fight and your continued fight. It is so important.

[Sharon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Powerful story, and a good counterbalance to the current narrative that only the Republicans worked hard and were successful at freeing hostages.

[Valerie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought it was a really good book. It's about Abigail a 3 year old girl who's parents were murdered in front of her and then she got taken by Hamas on October 7, 2023 and how they tried to get her back. The book is written by her great Aunt who I got to hear talk about everything that happened and have her sign my copy when she did a talk on Long Island. It's a sad book but worth the read. Yes like others have said she writes about her political connections but there the ones who helped get Abigail's story heard and helped try to get her back.

[Jessi Robins · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an amazing book! I’m at the author a few weeks ago, and loved her story. She wrote it in such a beautiful way, I liked being able to read about the behind the scenes of the advocacy work that she did. Am yisrael chai!

[Sophie Phillips · Rating 5 out of 5]

Harrowing, gut-wrenching and earth shattering journey of American-Israeli Jewish history. Should be mandated reading for every October 7th denier.

Absolutely in awe of the author, Liz, whom used her own personal connections within the Democratic Party (DNC) to help assist in bringing her 3-year-old niece, Abigail Edan, home from Hamas captivity.

In life, you never know what connections you will make or when you might need them. Many influential and well-known political figures had their hand in bringing this child home.

Abigail Edan’s story of survival will forever stick with me. And so will the force of love that helped to return her.

[Ellen · Rating 3 out of 5]

An important story to read HOWEVER the author IMHO should have kept her political views and negative comments to herself. I felt it detracted from what she had to say!