Siegel, as well as Ofer Kalderon and Yarden Bibas, was forced to participate in another sick ceremony before being handed over to the Red Cross
February 1, 2025 08:20
Hamas has now freed three Israeli hostages this morning following a delay in one of the releases.
Ofer Kalderon and Yarden Bibas were handed over to Red Cross officials early this morning and will return to Israel after 484 days in Gaza.
Siegel, Ofer Kalderon (pictured) and Yarden Bibas were handed 'graduation certificates' before being handed over to the Red Cross (Image: Getty)AFP via Getty Images
But American-Israeli Keith Siegel, who has been the subject of strong lobbying from Washington, did not initially appear to be part of the release party.
It has now been confirmed that Siegel was released in Gaza City shortly after the other two captives.
Photos from Gaza show green bandana-clad Hamas terrorists escorting Kalderon, Bibas and Siegel one-by-one to a makeshift stage for another sick pre-release ceremony, which saw them handed “graduation certificates” for their time in captivity.
The initial delay of Siegel’s freedom was an inversion of the last round of releases, which saw Agam Berger released on her own several hours before Arbel Yehoud and Gadi Mozes.
Also released was Yarden Bibas, whose wife and young sons remain in Gaza (Image: Getty)AFP via Getty Images
But the release of Bibas has deepened concern for his wife Shiri and two young sons, five-year-old Ariel and two-year-old Kfir, who remain in Gaza.
The family were kidnapped together during the October 7 massacres and the abduction of the flame-haired Bibas boys has become one of the enduring images of the brutal attacks.
Now, the freeing of their father is a worrying indication of their health as, under the ceasefire deal, women and children should be released before their male relatives or any combatants.
Five female soldiers have also been released over the past week.
The release of Yarden Bibas has deepened concern for the health of his wife and young sons, who remain in Gaza (Image: Getty)AFP via Getty Images
Hamas has reportedly indicated to Israeli officials that eight of the hostages due for release are dead, but have not confirmed any names.
The terror group previously claimed that Shiri and her sons had died in an airstrike, but it has done the same with other hostages who later proved to be alive.
It comes after a short-notice hostage release on Thursday, organised to ease a row over the terms of the ceasefire, saw two Israeli civilians pushed through a baying mob in Khan Younis.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called the scene “shocking” and “further proof of the unimaginable cruelty of the Hamas terrorist organisation”.
Meanwhile, Hamas finally confirmed the death of Mohammed Deif, the architect of the October 7 attacks, after reports emerged that he had been killed in an airstrike last summer.