American-Israeli hostage Keith Siegel has been freed as part of the ongoing ceasefire between Israel and Hamas.
Looking frail but determined, Siegel, 65, was handed over to Red Cross officials in Gaza City on Saturday morning, marking a significant milestone in the truce negotiations.
Israelis in Tel Aviv cheered and shed tears as Siegel was handed to the Red Cross.
His release follows that of Yarden Bibas and French-Israeli Ofer Kalderon in similar scenes in the town of Khan Younis earlier and comes amid growing international pressure to secure the freedom of remaining hostages and solidify a lasting peace agreement.
Siegel, originally from Chapel Hill, North Carolina, was abducted from Kibbutz Kfar Aza during the October 7, 2023, Hamas-led attack on Israel.
His wife, Aviva, was released during a brief ceasefire in 2023, but his prolonged captivity left his family and supporters in agonizing uncertainty.
As kibbutz members gathered to witness his release, there were both tears of joy and lingering sorrow for those still held captive.
‘You can see that he’s lost a lot of weight, but he’s walking and talking, and you can still see the Keith we know,’ said Siegel’s niece, Tal Wax. ‘One of the first things he told us is that he’s still vegan.’
The ceasefire agreement, which has facilitated multiple exchanges of hostages for Palestinian prisoners, is now entering a critical second phase.
Released American-Israeli hostage, Keith Siegel, who was seized during the deadly October 7, 2023 attack by Hamas, embraces loved ones as he is reunited with his wife Aviva, his daughters Ilan, Gal and Shir and brother, Lee, at Sourasky Medical Center in Tel Aviv, Israe
Hamas terrorists escort American-Israeli hostage Keith Siegel on a stage before handing him over to a Red Cross team in Gaza City on Saturday as part of the fourth hostage-prisoner exchange
Keith Siegel appeared in a video message released by Hamas last April
There were sighs of relief and cheers in a living room where members of the kibbutz watched Siegel’s release. Many of those in the room were family friends, who applauded upon seeing his face, while some teared up.
Siegel is one of the highest-profile hostages, now a household name in Israel after his wife Aviva Siegel, also captured in the Hamas attack, mounted a public campaign to bring him home after her own release from captivity in November 2023.
Speaking after his release, his wife Aviva said: ‘The great day has arrived. Yes. I am happy. I am happy. there is no one happier than me. I am ready with everything and I’m going to meet him!’
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is set to meet U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House next week to discuss the future of the truce and the fate of remaining captives.
While progress has been made, the fragile peace remains at risk, with the possibility of renewed conflict if further negotiations fail.
On the Palestinian side, more than two dozen prisoners were released from Ofer Military Prison and transported to the West Bank, where they were met with jubilant celebrations.
Many former detainees appeared visibly weakened, their families tearfully welcoming them home.
‘Certainly, it’s an indescribable feeling, both sad and joyful, as we leave behind so many still in captivity,’ said Mohammad Kaskus, a recently released prisoner.
U.S.-Israeli dual national Keith Siegel was later handed over to the Red Cross at Gaza Port
Released American-Israeli hostage, Keith Siegel, embraces a loved one as he is reunited with family
Siegel was held by Hamas for 15 months and three weeks before his release was secured
Family members were all smiles at the emotional reunion early on Saturday morning in Israel
Siegel is seen in a photo before he was taken hostage by Hamas
Meanwhile, international mediators, including officials from Qatar and Egypt, are working to extend the ceasefire beyond its initial timeline.
The reopening of the Rafah border crossing has allowed crucial humanitarian aid to enter Gaza, offering a brief respite for war-weary civilians.
On Saturday, 50 sick and wounded Palestinian children were evacuated for urgent medical treatment, underscoring the dire humanitarian crisis in the region.
The ceasefire’s six-week first phase has seen the release of 33 Israeli hostages in exchange for nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners.
However, challenges remain, as Israel insists on dismantling Hamas while the militant group refuses to free the remaining hostages without a complete cessation of hostilities and an Israeli withdrawal from Gaza.
Siegel was paraded onto a stage by Hamas terrorists before finally being released after 15 months
Israeli hostage Keith Siegel being delivered to representatives of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) by fighters of the Ezz al-Din Al-Qassam brigades, the military wing of Hamas, at Gaza port in Gaza City today
Released Israeli hostage Aviva Siegel embraces her son as she reacts to a footage of her husband, Keith Siegel, being handed over to the Red Cross
People watching a live stream report on a big screen on the release of three Israeli hostages, Keith Siegel, Ofer Calderon and Yarden Bibas
Crowds gathered as the hostages were ceremoniously brought onto a stage by masked Hamas gunmen
Israel says it is committed to destroying Hamas. The terror group says it won’t release the remaining hostages without an end to the war and a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza.
About 1,200 people, mostly civilians, were killed in the attack that sparked the war.
More than 47,000 Palestinians have been killed in Israel’s retaliatory air and ground offensive, over half women and children, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry, which doesn’t say how many of the dead were militants.
The Israeli military says it killed over 17,000 fighters, without providing evidence.
It blames civilian deaths on Hamas because its fighters operate in residential neighborhoods using its population as human shields.
