***American father’s heroic efforts lead to release of youngest hostages from Gaza – heartwarming reunion set for Saturday!***
Hamas confirmed on Friday that among the three Israeli hostages scheduled for release from Gaza on Saturday, one is an American dual national who is the father of the youngest hostages abducted from Israel on October 7, 2023. The captives to be freed in the upcoming release are Keith Siegel, Yarden Bibas, and Ofer Kalderon. The Israeli Prime Minister’s Office has notified the families of the hostages about this development.
Keith Siegel, an Israeli-American citizen, was taken from his residence in kibbutz Kfar Aza. His wife Aviva, who was also kidnapped at the same time, was released in November 2023 as part of a temporary ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas. Yarden Bibas was abducted from kibbutz Nir Oz along with his wife Shiri and their two sons Kfir and Ariel. Kfir, only nine months old when he was taken, is the youngest among the hostages from the October 7 incident.
In November 2023, Hamas claimed that Shiri, Kfir, and Ariel Bibas had been killed in an Israeli airstrike. They released a hostage video featuring Yarden Bibas, who blamed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for the deaths. The Israeli military dismissed the video as “psychological terror,” and while Israel never officially confirmed the deaths, military representatives informed the families that the hostages’ survival was uncertain.
Kalderon, who was 52 at the time of his kidnapping, was taken from kibbutz Nir Oz together with his son Erez (11 years old) and his daughter Sahar (16 years old). Erez and Sahar were also released during the ceasefire in November 2023. The Hostages and Missing Families Forum has verified the identities of the hostages, and the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office has ensured that the families are aware of the progress.
Since the ceasefire took effect on January 19, Hamas and allied groups have released a total of 10 Israeli and five Thai hostages. However, the chaotic circumstances surrounding the recent release of hostages in Gaza prompted criticism from Israeli leaders and briefly delayed the release of Palestinian prisoners, who were eventually freed later that day. Prime Minister Netanyahu condemned the events as “shocking” and demanded assurances from mediators (Qatar, Egypt, and the United States) that such incidents would not reoccur.
As part of the ongoing truce, Hamas is expected to release an additional 23 hostages, including the three individuals scheduled for release on Saturday. The Israeli government has confirmed that eight of the hostages are deceased. In return, Israel is releasing hundreds of Palestinian prisoners, some of whom were held without charges, while others were convicted of serious offenses. The exchange ratio is set at 30 Palestinian prisoners for every civilian, 50 for every Israeli soldier, and 110 for the nine hostages who are
Shiri Bibas, along with her mother, was not among the women and children who were released from Gaza during the short-lived ceasefire in late November 2023. Shiri is one of four Israeli women still being held captive in Gaza. The other three – Judi Weinstein Haggai, 70, Inbar Hayman, 27, and Ofra Keidar, 70 – are feared to have perished, as per the Israeli military’s reports. Kfir and Ariel Bibas remain as the last children in captivity.
Siegel and Kalderon, along with some of their family members, were abducted and taken as hostages, with a few being released in November 2023 as part of the brief ceasefire agreement. The narratives shared by them shed light on the harrowing circumstances faced by those held captive.
Aviva Siegel recounted that during their time in captivity, her husband Keith encouraged everyone to find something they were grateful for each day. She shared, “Imagine being in the depths of hell and still striving to find one thing to be thankful for daily,” as reported by the Hostages and Missing Families Forum. A video of Aviva Siegel in captivity was disclosed by Hamas in April last year. In an interview with CNN, Aviva mentioned her concern for her husband’s well-being, noting his weariness and pallor after being taken from their home by Hamas militants in his nightwear, stressing his advanced age of 65 as he remained detained underground.
Unfortunately, Siegel’s mother, Gladys Ruth Siegel, passed away in December at the age of 97, as confirmed by the family. On the other hand, Kalderon has been depicted by his family as an avid cyclist and skilled carpenter, who finds joy in music and outings with his children.
Contributions to this report were made by Eugenia Yosef and Dana Karni. For further CNN updates and newsletter subscriptions, you can register an account at CNN.com.
