Jerusalem, Jan 31 (EFE).- The spokesperson for the Al-Qassam Brigades – Hamas’ armed wing -, Abu Obeida announced on Friday the names of the three hostages to be released Saturday in Gaza in another exchange of Palestinian prisoners and Israeli hostages as part of the ceasefire agreement.
They include Ofer Calderon, Keith Siegel, and Yarden Bibas, the father of the two children who remain in captivity with their mother, Shiri Bibas.
The office of the Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, has confirmed having received the list with the three names and said that it will notify the family members.
Ofer Calderon, 54, was kidnapped by Palestinian militants in Kibbutz Nir Oz, along with his two children, Sahar and Erez, who were released during the first ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas in November 2023.
Keith Siegel, 65, an Israeli-American, was kidnapped in Kibbutz Kfar Azzar along with his wife, who was also released in November.
Yarden Bibas, 33, of Argentine origin, was kidnapped along with his wife Shiri and their two children, Ariel and Kfir, who turned five and one, respectively, in captivity.
In November 2023, Islamic Jihad claimed that Shiri and the two children had died in an Israeli airstrike, but the military was never able to confirm that information, although they were the only minors who were not released during the ceasefire reached that month, which raised doubts.
Shiri and her two children are part of the list of 33 hostages that the Palestinian militants have to release in the 42-day first phase of the ceasefire agreement. EFE
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