Palestinian terror group Hamas announced on Friday that it would release the father of the youngest hostage taken in its October 7, 2023, attack on Israel. Yarden Bibas, Keith Siegel, and Ofer Kalderon, including a dual US citizen, will be handed over in the next exchange of hostages for Palestinian prisoners, according to Hamas armed wing spokesperson Abu Obeida.
Yarden Bibas is the father of baby Kfir, who was only nine months old when kidnapped, along with Ariel, who was four at the time of the attack. The fate of Kfir, Ariel, and their mother Shiri, who was also taken, remains unknown. Hamas previously claimed that they were killed in Israeli bombardment during the Gaza war.
Video footage of the hostages' capture showed a terrified Shiri holding her children as they were taken into captivity by Hamas assailants. Yarden, 34 at the time, was also abducted and shown with a head injury from hammer blows.
Keith Siegel, an Israeli-American, was taken hostage with his wife Aviva. Aviva was released in a previous exchange in November 2023. Ofer Kalderon, along with his children Erez and Sahar, was also part of the first prisoner swap.
In a recent development, Hamas released three Israeli and five Thai hostages in Gaza, while Israel freed 110 Palestinian prisoners. The exchange was delayed due to large crowds at the handover points, causing frustration on both sides.
As part of the cease-fire agreement ending over 15 months of conflict, 33 hostages held by Palestinian factions in Gaza will be released in the initial six weeks of the truce in exchange for numerous Palestinian prisoners, many serving life sentences in Israel.
