Three Israeli hostages and three Palestinian prisoners are exchanged for a U.S. dual citizen
The Prisons of Yarden Siegel: The Last Hope of the Israeli-Israel War for the Families Of Yarden and Sharon Kalderon
It was not clear if Kalderon would be returned to Israel alive or dead before his release. “I hope that he’s well enough to hug him…to tell him that we love him and we are here,” his sister-in-law, Sharon Kalderon, told NPR earlier this month.
Bibas was taken hostage along with his wife and two small children. The plight of the hostages in Israel has become a symbol for the Bibas family. Yarden Bibas has appeared in two videos from Gaza before, but the fate of his family members is unknown.
Mr. Siegel and his wife were taken captive in the attack on Israel. They were taken from a kibbutz near the border with Gaza.
In exchange, 183 Palestinian prisoners and detainees were released from Israeli jails, including some serving life sentences. A man who was convicted by Israel of funneling funds to Hamas is among those who will be released. Halabi pleaded not guilty, and World Vision strongly denied his involvement. Also expected to be released is Shadi Amouri, who’s serving a life sentence for a bombing that killed 17 Israelis in 2002. Amouri is going to be deported.
13 Israelis and five Thais have been released since the ceasefire took effect. More than 500 Palestinians will have been released after the exchange.
During a November cease-fire in November of 1991, thePalestinian militant group released his wife, who has been campaigning for his freedom ever since.
Mr. Siegel, a North Carolina native, immigrated in 1980 to Israel, where he has worked as an occupational therapist. He and his wife have a lot of children.
Loss of the Yo-Yo Experience: What Happened to the Hostage Families in West Bank Negihad?
“It’s incredibly frustrating to have this yo-yo experience once again,” Lee said at the time. It becomes difficult to continue with hope every day.
If the militant group does not give up its control over Gaza, relatives of hostages said they fear Israel could return to war after the first phase. They worry that such a scenario could endanger their loved ones.
