Keith Siegel, Ofer Calderon and Yarden Bibas to Be Freed Saturday

Stand for Israel  |  January 31, 2025

Relatives of Israeli hostage Yarden Bibas and supporters mark his 35th birthday in Hamas captivity.
Relatives of Israeli hostage Yarden Bibas and supporters mark his 35th birthday in Hamas captivity. (Photo: Tomer Neuberg/Flash90)

Israel now knows the names of the hostages planned to be released this Saturday. Praise God these innocent people will return home, one of them being the father of the youngest of the hostages – Ariel and baby Kfir – left in Gaza. Please pray for these two sweet boys and their mother who still haven’t been released.

Times of Israel tells us more:

Siegel, a US citizen originally from North Carolina, was taken captive with his wife Aviva from Kibbutz Kfar Aza during the Hamas-led invasion and massacre in southern Israel on October 7, 2023. Aviva was freed during a previous ceasefire in November 2023.

Calderon was kidnapped from Kibbutz Nir Oz on October 7 with two of his children, who were both freed in the previous ceasefire.

Bibas, his wife Shiri, and children Ariel and Kfir were all abducted from Kibbutz Nir Oz. Kfir was 10-months-old and Ariel was 4 at the time. Yarden was wounded during his kidnapping, and was seen being abducted to Gaza separately from his wife and children.

Hamas has claimed that Shiri and the two boys were killed in captivity. Israel has not confirmed their deaths, but has expressed “grave concern” for their fate. Earlier this week, Israel reportedly demanded that Hamas clarify the condition of Shiri and the two small boys, who are all on the list of 33 hostages being freed in the first, 42-day phase of the hostage-ceasefire deal.