Hamas Confirms Release of Three Israeli Hostages in Upcoming Exchange
Hamas has announced it will free three more Israeli hostages seized during its October 7, 2023, attack on Israel. The exchange, set for Saturday, involves handing over Yarden Bibas, Keith Siegel, and Ofer Kalderon for 90 Palestinian prisoners.
Abu Obeida, a spokesperson for Hamas’s armed wing, disclosed the news via his Telegram channel. On the same day, a Palestinian advocacy group confirmed that Israel plans to release the 90 inmates as part of the deal.
According to Amani Sarahneh, a spokesperson for the Palestinian Prisoners’ Club, 90 prisoners are to be released on Saturday. This includes nine serving life sentences and 81 with long sentences.
Details of the Hostages
Yarden Bibas is the father of two young children, Kfir, nine months old at the time of kidnapping, and Ariel, four at the time of the attack. There has been no official word on the fate of Kfir and Ariel, or their mother Shiri, who was also abducted.
Hamas initially claimed that Kfir and Ariel were killed during Israeli bombardment early in the Gaza conflict, which sparked widespread disbelief in Israel.
Kidnapping Footage
Footage of their capture quickly circulated, showing a terrified Shiri holding her children in a blanket as they were surrounded and kidnapped by Hamas militants.
Sixty-four year-old Keith Siegel is a dual US citizen. (Reuters: Hamas Military Wing)
Keith Siegel, a dual US citizen, was also seen in a video released by Hamas. His wife, Aviva, was released in the initial hostage exchange in November 2023.
Ofer Kalderon’s two children, Erez and Sahar, were also among those freed in the first hostage exchange.
Hadas Kalderon has been campaigning for her husband Ofer’s release. (Reuters)
Previous Hostage Exchange
On Thursday, Hamas freed three Israeli and five Thai hostages in Gaza while Israel released 110 Palestinian prisoners. The process was delayed due to crowds surrounding the hostage handover points.
Peace Deal Details
Under the ceasefire agreement that ended over 15 months of fighting, 33 hostages held by Palestinian militants in Gaza are to be freed within the first six weeks of the truce in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners.
As the latest exchange approaches, families of the hostages, both on the Israeli and Palestinian sides, await news with bated breath, hoping for a resolution that brings closure and peace.
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