American hostage held in Gaza freed by Hamas as part of ceasefire deal [View all]
Source: USA Today
Keith Siegel became the first American hostage freed on Saturday as part of an Israel-Hamas ceasefire agreement the U.S. helped broker that aims to ends the war in the Gaza Strip.
With his release, there are now 6 Americans still being held in Gaza, four of whom are believed to be dead. Siegel, 65, was released after 15 months in Hamas captivity. They were abducted when Hamas attacked Israel on Oct. 7, 2023. Both are dual Israeli-American citizens.
Palestinian Hamas militants release Keith Siegel, a U.S.-Israeli dual national hostage held in Gaza since the deadly October 7, 2023 attack, as part of a ceasefire and a hostages-prisoners swap deal between Hamas and Israel, in Gaza City, February 1, 2025
Palestinian Hamas militants release Keith Siegel, a U.S.-Israeli dual national hostage held in Gaza since the deadly October 7, 2023 attack, as part of a ceasefire and a hostages-prisoners swap deal between Hamas and Israel, in Gaza City, February 1, 2025
He was freed alongside Yarden Bibas, 35, and Ofer Kalderon, 54.
The ceasefire's first phase, which began in mid-January and was set to run until early March, includes the release of 33 hostages, living and dead, in return for the freeing of nearly 2,000 Palestinians in Israeli prisons. The first phase prioritizes sick, elderly and female hostages.
Israeli officials believe American hostages Itay Chen, Gad Haggai, Judith Weinstein and Omer Neutra are dead. Their remains are not expected to be returned to their families in the deal's early stages.
Read more: https://www.yahoo.com/news/american-hostage-held-gaza-freed-134541059.html?fr=yhssrp_catchall
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