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 said in an emotional interview on Fox News Digital, referring to a video released by Hamas in April. “He looks terrible, you can see the bones are coming off and he’s lost a lot of weight.
“He's not himself, and I'm really worried about him. [many] “It’s been days and minutes since we received the video,” she said. “We have no idea what kind of Keith we’re going to have coming back.”
“I'm worried about all the hostages, because the situation they're in is the worst that humanity can experience,” Aviva said. “I've been there. I've been touched by death. I know what it feels like to be underground with no oxygen.
“Keith and I were left there. We were left there to die,” she added.
Aviva and her then 42-year-old husband were brutally abducted by Hamas from their home in Kibbutz Kfar Azha on October 7, 2023 and held together for 51 days before being released in a hostage exchange in November 2023. Ta. 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. That's what he did for me when I was there. He gave 100% for me and the hostages we had together. It was.”
“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 he remains strong and holds out hope to come out.” I am confident,” she said.
Aviva told Fox News Digital, reflecting on their final moments together before they were separated before being released. he. “
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. “The hostages, I can't imagine them ever coming back. It would be the happiest moment for the whole family. That needs to happen.”
Although reports in recent weeks have suggested growing optimism about the hostages' return, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Thursday in an interview on MSNBC Morning Joe that “we are encouraged. Because this is what has to happen, and it's natural.'' He urged some caution. This is expected to happen because the cavalry that Hamas expected to come to its aid is not coming to its rescue. [Hezbollah’s] Don't come to help me [Iran’s] I'm not coming to help. ”
“In the absence of that, I think there is pressure on Hamas to finally get to Yes,” he added. “But look, I think we also need to be very realistic. Over the last few months, we've had some football moments with Lucy. As I was thinking about it, the football was pulled away.
“The real question is: Can Hamas make a decision and come to a yes? We are working with all partners on this matter to put the necessary pressure on Hamas to say yes. ” Blinken added.
