[Israel is preparing to receive three male hostages held in Gaza on Saturday, as part of the Gaza ceasefire and hostage deal. The militant group has named the three men to be released: Keith Siegel, Yarden Bibas, and Ofer Kalderon.
Keith Siegel, an Israeli-American citizen, was taken from his home in kibbutz Kfar Aza along with his wife Aviva. She was released in November 2023 as part of a ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas. Aviva said that while they were held captive together, Keith would ask everyone to identify one thing they were thankful for, even in the depths of hell.
Yarden Bibas was kidnapped from kibbutz Nir Oz alongside his wife Shiri and two sons Kfir and Ariel. Kfir was just nine months old when he was abducted, the youngest hostage taken on October 7. Hamas claimed in November 2023 that Shiri, Kfir, and Ariel were killed in an Israeli airstrike, but Israel never confirmed their deaths. The Bibas family, and Kfir in particular, are among the most recognizable victims of the October 7 terror attacks.
Kfir’s picture has been featured on many posters calling for the release of the hostages, showing him holding a pink elephant toy and smiling directly into the camera. Ofer Kalderon, a French-Israeli citizen, was 52 when he was kidnapped from kibbutz Nir Oz with his son Erez, who was 11 at the time, and his daughter Sahar, who was 16. Erez and Sahar were also released during the November 2023 ceasefire.
Kalderon has been described by his family as a keen cyclist and expert carpenter, who enjoys music and field trips with his children.
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