Hamas to release 3 hostages, including U.S, French dual citizens

Hamas announced on Friday that it would release three Israeli hostages, including the father of the youngest captive taken during the October 7, 2023, attack on Israel.

The hostages—Yarden Bibas, Keith Siegel, and Ofer Kalderon—are set to be freed on Saturday as part of an exchange involving Palestinian prisoners.

The announcement was made by Abu Obeida, the spokesperson for Hamas’s armed wing, in a statement on Telegram. Among those slated for release, Keith Siegel holds dual U.S. citizenship, while Ofer Kalderon is a dual French citizen.

The exchange comes amid ongoing efforts to secure the release of hostages taken by Hamas during its assault on southern Israel last October, which triggered the current war in Gaza. The attack resulted in the deaths of about 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and saw the militant group abduct around 250 individuals.

In response, Israel launched a military offensive that has killed tens of thousands in Gaza, according to Palestinian health officials.

The fate of the Bibas family has been of particular concern in Israel. Yarden Bibas’s wife, Shiri, and their two young sons—four-year-old Ariel and one-year-old Kfir—were also taken hostage. In November, Hamas claimed the children and their mother had been killed in an Israeli airstrike, a claim that has not been independently verified. Their bodies have not been recovered.

International mediators, including Qatar, Egypt, and the United States, have been working to negotiate further exchanges between Israel and Hamas. Previous agreements have led to the release of dozens of Israeli hostages in return for Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails.

The upcoming exchange could signal progress in broader negotiations, though Israeli leaders have vowed to continue military operations until all hostages are freed and Hamas is dismantled. Meanwhile, humanitarian conditions in Gaza continue to deteriorate, with international calls for a ceasefire growing.

As the conflict drags on, efforts to secure the release of the remaining hostages and alleviate the humanitarian crisis remain a focal point for diplomatic efforts.

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