On Friday Hamas announced the names of three hostages-trains to which an American citizen-I said that this weekend would be released as part of his ceased the fire with Israel to end the war in Gaza, an agreement that has now been held for Almost two weeks.
Abu Obeida, the spokesman for the group’s armed wing, called the three like Yarden Bibas, 35 years old, Ofer Kalderon, 54 years old, and Keith Siegel, 65, an American-Israeli. Israel is scheduled for the release of about 90 Palestinian prisoners this weekend in exchange for the three men, according to a center of information on prisoners linked to Hamas.
The three were kidnapped during October 7, 2023, the surprise attack on Israel when Hamas and his allies killed about 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and took about 250 hostages, according to the Israeli authorities, triggering the war in Gaza. The subsequent military campaign of Israel against Hamas in Gaza lasted for over a year and killed over 45,000 people, according to local health officials.
In a multifase agreement of ceased the fire that Israel and Hamas agreed this month, Hamas has committed to freeing at least 33 of the 97 hostages left in the first six weeks in exchange for over 1,500 Palestinians imprisoned by Israel.
So far about 10 Israeli prisoners have been freed, more than five Thai workers who were taken hostage in the October 2023 attack while working in Israeli villages near the border with Gaza. Israel has released more than 300 Palestinian prisoners, including many who served life sentences for involvement in fatal attacks against the Israelis.
For many Israelis, the kidnapping of the family of Mr. Bibas has become emblematic of the cruelty of the attack led by Hamas. The militants also kidnapped his wife, Shiri Bibas, and their two children, Ariel, who was 4 years old, and Kfir, who was 9 months old.
Hamas later said that Mrs. Bibas and the two children had been killed in an Israeli air attack. Israeli officials have not publicly confirmed this statement, but claimed to be seriously worried about the fate of the three prisoners.
Mr. Siegel was taken hostage from his home to Kfar Aza, a Kibbutz near the Gaza border. His wife, Aviva Siegel, was held prisoner with him until the end of November 2023, when he was one of the approximately 105 hostages released as part of an agreement of ceased the fire.
Shir Siegel, his daughter, shared a video on Instagram who showed her to embrace her mother after receiving the news on Friday. “Dad is returning, Dad is on the list,” says Siegel Aviva, suffocating.
Mr. Kalderon, a double French-Israeli citizen, was taken in captivity when the Palestinian militants broke into his hometown, Nir Oz. His two children, Erez and Sahar, were freed in the truce of November 2023.
Shortly after his release, Sahar described that he is afraid of his Hamas kidnappers – and also to be killed in the unavailable Air Bombardment of Gaza di Israel. At the time he was 16 years old.
“And my father, who was left behind?” He told the New York Times. “I ask all those who see this: please, stop this war; Get all the hostages. “
Patrick Kingsley Contributed relationships.