Hamas has announced it will release three Israeli hostages on Saturday, including an American dual citizen, as part of the ongoing exchange deal with Israel. The announcement, made by Hamas' armed wing on Friday, comes amid heightened tensions over the fate of hostages still held in Gaza and growing criticism of Israeli leadership over its handling of the crisis.
The three hostages set to be released-Keith Siegel, Yarden Bibas, and Ofer Kalderon-were among the more than 250 individuals abducted during Hamas' October 7 attack on Israel. Siegel, an Israeli-American, was kidnapped alongside his wife, Aviva, from their home in Kibbutz Kfar Aza. Aviva was released in the first wave of the ceasefire agreement in November 2023.
Bibas, whose abduction has drawn international attention, was taken from Kibbutz Nir Oz along with his wife, Shiri, and their two young sons, Kfir and Ariel. At just nine months old, Kfir was the youngest hostage taken on October 7. In November, Hamas claimed that Shiri and the two children had been killed in an Israeli airstrike. The Israeli government has not confirmed their deaths but has indicated to the Bibas family that they may no longer be alive.
Kalderon, who was 52 at the time of his capture, was also taken from Nir Oz along with his children, Erez and Sahar. Both children were freed during the November ceasefire.
The release of these hostages is part of an extended ceasefire agreement, which has so far seen the exchange of 15 hostages, including five Thai nationals, for 400 Palestinian prisoners. Under the terms of the agreement, Saturday's exchange will involve Israel releasing 90 Palestinian prisoners, including 30 minors and individuals convicted of involvement in deadly attacks.
The hostage-prisoner swaps have been met with mixed reactions in Israel. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has faced criticism from families of hostages who believe negotiations should have taken place earlier in the war. At the same time, some Israelis argue that the terms of the deal are too lenient on Hamas, which remains a formidable presence in Gaza despite Israel's months-long military campaign.
The latest exchange follows chaotic scenes earlier in the week when Israeli and Thai hostages were released in Gaza. Crowds of people swarmed one of the handover points, prompting Israeli officials to delay the release of Palestinian prisoners. Netanyahu described the images as "shocking" and demanded guarantees from mediators-including Qatar, Egypt, and the United States-that such incidents would not be repeated.
While the truce has allowed an influx of humanitarian aid into Gaza, tensions remain high over the potential for renewed conflict. Israeli officials have expressed concern over the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), which has been banned from working with Israel but continues operations in Gaza. Juliette Touma, UNRWA's communications chief, said the agency's work remains ongoing but warned that any disruption could jeopardize humanitarian efforts.
The long-term outlook of the ceasefire remains uncertain, with additional negotiations set to take place before February 4. If an agreement is reached, it could pave the way for the release of more than 60 additional hostages, including Israeli soldiers, and the complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza. Such an outcome could mark a significant step toward ending the conflict, though the challenge of rebuilding Gaza looms large.
The fate of those still held by Hamas remains a central concern, particularly for families like the Bibas, who have received conflicting information about their loved ones. Kfir and Ariel Bibas are believed to be the last remaining children in captivity, amplifying the emotional weight of ongoing negotiations.
Meanwhile, Hamas continues to hold at least 79 hostages captured on October 7, in addition to three individuals who have been in captivity since 2014. Israeli officials remain committed to securing the release of all remaining hostages, but whether that can be achieved without further military action remains an open question.