Hamas Releases Three Israeli Captives as Part of Ceasefire Deal

CGC News Reporter February 2, 2025

Hamas has released three Israeli captives in two separate handovers, marking a new step in the ongoing exchange under a ceasefire deal that followed 15 months of Israeli attacks on Gaza. On Saturday, French-Israeli dual national Ofer Kalderon and Israeli citizen Yarden Bibas were handed over to the Red Cross in Khan Younis, a city in southern Gaza. About an hour later, American-Israeli dual national Keith Siegel was handed over to the Red Cross in Gaza City, in the northern part of the enclave.

The three captives waved to the crowd of Palestinians as they were handed over. Kalderon and Bibas have already reached Israel, where they will undergo medical checks before reuniting with their families. The whereabouts of Bibas’ wife and two children, who were also taken captive, remain unknown. As of 0900 GMT, Siegel was being escorted back to Israel by the Red Cross.