- American-Israeli Keith Siegel, 65, will be released this weekend as part of a prisoner exchange deal, marking the first release of an American hostage from Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack.
- Siegel, Yarden Bibas, and Ofer Kalderon are set to be freed amid a fragile ceasefire and criticism of Netanyahu’s handling of the hostage crisis.
- The release comes as Hamas and Israel negotiate further exchanges, with Israel freeing Palestinian prisoners in return.
- Netanyahu faces backlash for delays in the process and his government’s aggressive military campaign in Gaza.
American-Israeli Keith Siegel, 65, is set to be released this weekend as part of a prisoner exchange deal, marking the first release of an American citizen taken hostage during Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel.
Siegel, a dual national, will be freed alongside Yarden Bibas, the father of the youngest hostages, and Ofer Kalderon, a French-Israeli citizen. The release comes amid a fragile ceasefire and growing criticism of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s handling of the hostage crisis, which critics argue has been marred by delays and mismanagement.
The announcement, made by Hamas on Friday, has brought a glimmer of hope to families who have endured months of uncertainty. However, the path to this moment has been fraught with tension, including Netanyahu’s recent decision to delay a prisoner release over what he called “shocking scenes” during a chaotic handover of hostages.
A long-awaited homecoming
Keith Siegel, an occupational therapist from Kibbutz Kfar Aza, was abducted alongside his wife, Aviva, during Hamas’ brutal assault on southern Israel. Aviva was released in November 2023 as part of an earlier ceasefire deal, but Keith remained in captivity. In a video released by Hamas in April 2024, Siegel appeared pale and tired but assured his family, “It’s very important to me that you know I’m okay.”
Aviva Siegel has been a vocal advocate for her husband’s release, describing the emotional toll of their separation. “I’m just so worried about him,” she told Fox News in December. “I just don’t know what kind of Keith that we’re going to get back.” Her dream, she said, is to see her husband reunited with their grandchildren, “jumping into his arms and we’ll all cry together.”
Also set for release is Yarden Bibas, whose wife, Shiri, and two young sons, Kfir and Ariel, were kidnapped alongside him. Hamas claimed in late 2023 that the family was killed in an Israeli airstrike, though Israel has not confirmed their deaths. Kfir, just nine months old at the time of his abduction, became a symbol of the hostage crisis, his image plastered on posters worldwide.
Ofer Kalderon, a 54-year-old carpenter and father of two, was abducted from Kibbutz Nir Oz. His children, Erez and Sahar, were released in the November 2023 exchange.
The release of these hostages has been overshadowed by criticism of Netanyahu’s handling of the crisis. The Israeli prime minister has faced backlash for his government’s aggressive military campaign in Gaza, which some have described as genocidal, and for delaying the release of Palestinian prisoners during the exchange process.
Last week, Netanyahu balked at the chaotic handover of hostages, temporarily halting the release of Palestinian prisoners until mediators guaranteed the safety of future transfers. “I view with utmost severity the shocking scenes during the release of our hostages,” Netanyahu said, referring to footage of hostages being forced to walk through a hostile crowd in Khan Younis.
Critics argue that Netanyahu’s delays and hardline stance have prolonged the suffering of hostages and their families.
A fragile ceasefire
The current ceasefire, brokered by Qatar, Egypt, and the United States, has seen the release of 10 Israeli and five Thai hostages since it began on Jan. 19. Hamas is expected to free 23 more hostages over the next six weeks, including the three set for release this weekend. In exchange, Israel has agreed to release hundreds of Palestinian prisoners, some convicted of serious offenses.
As of Friday, Hamas and its allies still hold 79 hostages taken on Oct. 7, along with three others captured in 2014.
For Keith Siegel’s family, his impending release is a moment of relief after months of anguish. “Dad is coming! Dad is on the list!” Aviva Siegel exclaimed in a video shared by her daughter. Yet, for many others, the wait continues, underscoring the need for a lasting resolution to a crisis that has devastated countless lives.
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