Hamas names Israeli hostages to be freed on Feb 1
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Israeli-American Keith Siegel, who was taken hostage with his wife Aviva, was seen in a video released by Hamas in 2024.
PHOTO: REUTERS
JERUSALEM - Palestinian militant group Hamas said on Jan 31 it would free the father of the youngest hostages seized in its Oct 7, 2023, attack on Israel and two others, including a dual US citizen in the next exchange of hostages for Palestinian prisoners.
Mr Yarden Bibas, Mr Keith Siegel and Mr Ofer Kalderon will be handed over on Feb 1, Hamas armed wing spokesman Abu Obeida said in a post on his Telegram channel.
Mr Bibas is the father of baby Kfir, only nine months old when he was kidnapped, and Ariel, who was four at the time of the attack.
There was no word on the fate of Kfir and Ariel, or on their mother Shiri, who was taken at the same time. Hamas said in late 2023 that they had been killed by Israeli bombardment.
Israeli-American Keith Siegel, who was taken hostage with his wife Aviva, was seen in a video released by Hamas in 2024. His wife was released in the first hostage-for-prisoner exchange in November 2023.
Mr Kalderon's two children Erez and Sahar, abducted alongside him, were also released in the first exchange. REUTERS
