First appearance on Fox – Aviva Siegel, wife of American hostage Keith Siegel and a former hostage herself, is a hostage negotiator to have her husband and others released from Hamas captivity, where they spent more than 440 days in deplorable conditions. My condolences to everyone involved. conditions.
“Hamas released a video of Keith, and I just saw the picture,” Aviva told Fox News Digital in an emotional interview, referring to a video released by Hamas in April. . “He looks terrible, he’s boneless and you can see he’s lost a lot of weight.
“He doesn’t look like me and I’m really worried about him. [many] “It's been days and minutes since we received that video. We have no idea what kind of Keith we're going to get back,” she said.
Keith Samuel Siegel, 64, remains hostage to Hamas in Gaza (Hostage Family Forum)
Seven American hostages remain held by Hamas terrorists as their families call for their release: 'This is an emergency'
“I'm worried about all the hostages, because the situation they're in is the worst that humanity could ever experience,” Aviva said. “I've been there. I've touched death. I know what it's like to be underground with no oxygen.
“Keith and I were just left there. We were left there to die,” she added.
Aviva and her then 42-year-old husband were brutally abducted from their home in Kibbutz Kfar Azha by Hamas on October 7, 2023 and held together for 51 days before being released in a hostage exchange in November 2023. It was done. A stomach infection left her in an incredibly serious condition.
Since then, she has fought tirelessly for Keith's release, met with U.S. and Israeli government officials, traveled to the United States nine times in the last year, and become a prominent advocate for the hostages.
“I just hope he is with other Israelis. If they are there, he will be okay,” Aviva said. “He's the one who makes them feel like they're in this together. When I was there, he was. He was 100 percent for me and the hostages we had together.”
TEL AVIV, ISRAEL – MARCH 30: Aviva Siegel, wife of freed hostage Keith Siegel, speaks during the last weekly “Go Home Now” rally held in Tel Aviv, Israel on March 30, 2024. give a speech at According to the Hostage Families Forum, this week will be the last time a rally will be held at Hostage Square, saying the government is not serious about negotiations and plans to hold a protest in front of the National Assembly. (Photo by Alexi Rosenfeld/Getty Images)
“If you're going to get kidnapped, get kidnapped with Keith because he was outstanding to everyone. He was strong to all of us. And I hope he stays strong and gets out. “I am confident that we continue to have hope that the future will come,” she said.
Reflecting on their final moments before their separation ahead of her release, Aviva told Fox News Digital, “When I left him, I told him to be the strongest. I need to be strong for you, and I'm going to be strong for me.” he. “
Palestinian Authority under pressure due to popularity of Iranian-backed terrorist organizations and growing resistance
Top security officials from the United States, Egypt and Qatar have called on Israel and Hamas to agree to a ceasefire and return of the hostages.
Reports on Thursday suggested negotiators were seeking a 42-day ceasefire. 34 of at least 50 hostages It has been determined that it is still alive, so it can be replaced.
Hamas is also expected to remain in power. At least 38 people were taken hostage He was then killed in captivity, on October 7, 2023, along with at least seven other people believed to have been taken to Gaza.
All the hostages are believed to be held in squalid conditions, but children, women (including female IDF soldiers), the sick and the elderly will be among the first to be traded in exchange for the currently imprisoned Hamas terrorist. He is reportedly listed as a candidate for release.
“I'm holding out hope, I'm holding on, I'm just waiting. I'm waiting to hug Keith and I'm waiting for the whole family to have their family back,” Aviva said. “We have to get them back.”
Aviva said she dreams of the moment when she will hug her husband again and her grandchildren will “jump into his arms.”
“We will be the happiest people on earth,” she said. “To all the hostages, I can't imagine them coming home. It will be the happiest moment for the whole family. We have to make it happen.”
Although reports in recent weeks have suggested increasing optimism about the return of the hostages, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Thursday in an interview on MSNBC Morning Joe that “we are encouraged. Yes, because this is what should happen and Hamas is in a situation where the cavalry that they thought would come to their aid is not coming to their aid. [Hezbollah’s] Don't come to help me [Iran’s] I'm not coming to help you. ”
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“In the absence of that, I think there is pressure on Hamas to finally reach yes,” he added. “But look, I think we also have to be very realistic. We've had some football moments with Lucy over the last few months. I expected it, but the football was taken away from me.”
“The real question is: Can Hamas make a decision and say yes? We are working with all partners on this issue to try to put the necessary pressure on Hamas to make them say yes. “There are,” Blinken added.
