2 American hostages, Bibas family confirmed among first 33 Israeli captives to be released in cease-fire
Two of the three remaining American hostages are among the 33 captives expected to be released by Hamas as part of the cease-fire agreement the terror group made with Israel that went into effect Sunday, after 15 months in captivity.Israel confirmed Sunday Sagui Dekel-Chen and Keith Siegel are on Hamas’ list of hostages to be freed in the first phase of the deal — which took effect at 11:15 a.m.local time on Sunday following an hours-long delay.
In addition to the Americans, the Bibas family — including 2-year-old Kfir and 5-year-old Ariel — are on the list of Gaza-held captives that will be freed.“We are waiting for each and every one of you,” the official Israel X account posted.Sixty hostages are believed to be alive in Gaza.Another 37 are dead, with their remains in the hands of Hamas terrorists.
Keith Siegel, 65, and his wife Aviva were brutally abducted from their home in Kibbutz Kfar Aza during Hamas’ attack on Israel on Oct.7, 2023.The couple was held captive together until Aviva was released as part of a hostage exchange in November 2023.Keith Siegel, a native of Chapel Hill, North Carolina, was featured in a video released by the terror group back in April 2024.Sagui Dekel-Chen, 36, was living in Kibbutz Nir-Oz with his wife and two children when he was taken from his home by Hamas.Dekel-Chen’s father, Jonathan was born in Connecticut and both have US citizenship.New Jersey-native Edan Alexander, the third remaining American hostage, will not be released in the initial phase of the cease-fire.
The Bibas family — mom Shiri, 33, dad Yarden, 34 and their two children Ariel and Kfir were kidnapped together by terrorists on Oct.7 and dragged to Gaza.Video of the kidnapping, and the young age of the Bibas children has drawn significant attention to their case in both Israel and around the world.
Kfir, the youngest hostage of the war, was taken when he was only 9 months old — meaning he has spent most of his life in captivity in the hands...