On Friday, the names of three Israeli hostages to be released from Gaza on Saturday were announced: 54-year-old Ofer Calderon, 65-year-old Keith Siegel, and 35-year-old Yarden Bibas, officials said.
Bibas, his wife Shiri, and children Ariel and Kfir were abducted from Kibbutz Nir Oz. Kfir was 10 months old, and Ariel was 4 years old. Yarden was injured during the abduction and was seen being taken to Gaza separately from his wife and children. On the morning of October 7, he wrote to his family that terrorists had entered the kibbutz and carried out a massacre, during which about 180 of the 400 kibbutz residents were killed or abducted. A few hours later, the family saw a circulated video showing Shiri holding both boys in her arms, with an expression of horror on her face as she was surrounded by terrorists. Ariel, now 5 years old, and Kfir, who turned 2 this month, are the only children remaining in Gaza after a deal made in November 2023, which resulted in the release of more than 100 people captured during the attack.
According to The Times of Israel, Hamas claims that Shiri and the two boys were killed in captivity. Israel has not confirmed this claim but expressed "serious concern" for their fate.
Concerns for the fate of the Bibas family have increased as Hamas did not return them among the first released hostages, although the deal stipulated that living women and children should be released first, followed by injured and infirm men, as well as men over 50 years old. "We said then and we say now: we remain hopeful and continue to await their return. We await clarity regarding their condition," said a statement from Shiri's family.
Siegel, who holds dual Israeli and U.S. citizenship, is originally from North Carolina and was captured along with his wife Aviva from Kibbutz Kfar Aza during the Hamas-led invasion and massacre in southern Israel on October 7, 2023. Aviva was released during a previous truce in November 2023.
Calderon was abducted from Kibbutz Nir Oz on October 7 along with his two children, who were also released during a previous truce.
Hamas stated that 15 of the 23 hostages yet to be returned in the current phase are alive, without specifying the condition of each, and eight have died. Israel stated that this data matches its own information.
As these hostages are gradually released, Israel is to release about 1,904 Palestinian prisoners, including more than 100 serving life sentences for terrorist attacks. On Saturday, 90 prisoners will be released, nine of whom are believed to be terrorists serving life sentences.
Photo: The Times of Israel