American-Israeli Hostage Keith Siegel Freed by Hamas After 484 Days
In a momentous turn of events, Keith Siegel, an American-Israeli hostage, was released by Hamas on a Saturday morning, marking a significant milestone as the first US citizen to be freed by the terror group as part of an ongoing cease-fire deal. The Red Cross orchestrated Siegel’s release after enduring a harrowing 484 days in captivity at the hands of his captors.
The 65-year-old occupational therapist from Chapel Hill, N.C., was taken captive alongside his wife, Aviva, during a raid by Hamas on their home at Kibbutz Kfar Aza on October 7, 2023. Aviva, who was released in a previous hostage-for-prisoner swap in November 2023, fervently advocated for her husband’s safe return, reaching out to then-President Biden and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in her relentless pursuit to reunite with her partner of 43 years.
“You can’t begin to fathom the cruelty of the conditions he endured for so long,” Aviva shared with The Post last October, recounting the horrors of being confined in Hamas’ oppressive tunnels with scant oxygen, minimal sustenance, and limited access to water. The ordeal, as she described, was nothing short of a nightmare.
Following months of anguish and uncertainty, Keith Siegel emerged from captivity, greeted by the Red Cross and Hamas operatives, clutching a peculiar “gift bag” as he was ushered onto a stage for the momentous handover. A poignant sight, Siegel stood alongside fellow Israeli hostage Omri Miran in a Hamas propaganda video released in April, visibly frail and emotionally distraught as he implored for a resolution to the cease-fire negotiations.
Tragically, Siegel’s time in captivity was marred by personal loss, with the passing of his mother, Gladys, while he remained in the clutches of his captors. The weight of these traumatic experiences undoubtedly cast a shadow over his long-awaited freedom.
The anticipation of Siegel’s release reverberated across social media, with his daughter capturing the raw emotion of the moment in a heartwarming Instagram post. Aviva’s jubilant cry of “Dad is coming! Dad is on the list!” encapsulated the sheer relief and joy that accompanied the news of her father’s impending return.
As Siegel savored his newfound freedom, two other hostages – Yarden Bibas, father of the youngest Israeli child held by Hamas, and French-Israeli Ofer Kalderon – were also released in Khan Younis earlier that day. With Siegel’s release, attention now turns to the fate of the remaining American hostages in Hamas’ custody, including Sagui Dekel-Chen, a father of three, and Edan Alexander, a 20-year-old IDF soldier expected to be released in a subsequent phase of the cease-fire agreement.
Tragically, the loss of four American hostages – Itay Chen, Omer Neutra, and Gadi and Judi Haggai – has been confirmed by Israeli authorities, underscoring the high stakes and profound impact of these hostage situations on families and communities. As the world watches with bated breath, the safe return of Keith Siegel offers a glimmer of hope amidst the shadows of uncertainty and grief that have permeated these turbulent times.
With Post wires.
