(The Center Square) – In a move anticipated since late last week, Chapel Hill native Keith Siegel was released from Hamas’ hostage captivity on Saturday.
He and his wife, Aviva, were captured Oct. 7, 2023, at the beginning of the militant group’s attack. Yarden Bibas and Ofer Calderon were also released. They were held for 484 days.
Aviva Siegel was released Nov. 26, 2023. Released on Jan. 19 were Romi Gonen, 24; Emily Damari, 28; and Doron Steinbrecher, 31.
Keith Siegel is one of seven American hostages, at least three who are believed alive. Sagui Dekel-Chen and Edan Alexander are the others.
More than 46,000 have died, including 14,000 children and 8,000 women, according to published reports. Hamas is reported to have killed 1,200 on the day of attack and taken 251 hostage.
Seigel moved to Israel when he was 21. He and his wife have lived in Kibbutz Kfar Aza.
A video released last April showed him alive, and he spoke to his family in it. In December, his 96-year-old mother died in the United States.
The Seigels are parents of four and grandparents of five.
The ceasefire between Israel and Hamas was reached on Jan. 15 in Doha, Qatar. The United States, Egypt and Qatar were involved in negotiations.
The ceasefire during which Aviva Siegel was released lasted a week. She was among more than 100 people released by Hamas; 200 Palestinians were freed from prisons in Israel.
