American-Israeli Keith Siegel and two other hostages being held in Gaza were released to the Red Cross by Hamas in part of the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas.
Siegel’s release marks the first American to be released since the ceasefire agreement was reached last month. His release, along with Yarden Bibas and French-Israeli Ofer Kalderon’s release, brings the total number of hostages released to 18 as Israel began releasing 183 Palestinian prisoners from Israeli jails.
“Welcome home, Yarden Bibas, Ofer Kalderon and Keith Siegel. Together with all the citizens of Israel and many around the world, my wife and I embrace you as you return home,” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a Telegram message.
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Siegel was taken from his home in kibbutz Kfar Aza nearly 16 months ago. A native of Chapel Hill, North Carolina, he will be reunited with his wife, Aviva, who was also taken hostage on Oct. 7, 2023, before being released a month later.
“You know, I wake up every morning, and I tell myself, be strong and talk for Keith. I’m here talking for Keith. I’m here talking for all the hostages that are still in Gaza, underneath the ground. And believe me that I’m sure that they’re screaming, ‘Just get me out of here,’” she said during an NBC News interview last November.
“Just figure yourself lying underneath the ground on a filthy, dirty mattress for days, and you have to keep silent. … And when they torture somebody that you love, like they tortured Keith, you have to just keep quiet,” she continued.
The exchange between the Red Cross and Hamas was orderly according to the Associated Press, in contrast to the chaotic release on Thursday when armed Hamas militants appeared to struggle to hold back a crowd during a hostage release. In Saturday’s releases, masked and armed militants stood in lines as the hostages walked onto a stage and waved before being led off and handed over to the Red Cross.
In Tel Aviv’s Hostages Square, thousands of people gathered to watch the releases being transmitted live on a large screen, waving signs, cheering, and crying.
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In exchange, all 183 prisoners that were due to be freed from Israeli prisons Saturday have been released, an Israeli prison services spokesperson said, after Hamas earlier freed the three hostages.
“The Prison Service concludes the fourth round of terrorist releases, as part of Operation ‘Wings of Freedom’ to return the hostages home,” the authority said in a statement.
