Hamas releases U.S. citizen from captivity for first time since cease-fire
Released from the captivity of the Palestinian radical movement Hamas 65-year-old citizen of the United States and Israel Keith Segal, arrived in Israel accompanied by the military. This was reported on February 1 by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) press service.
"The returned hostage Keith Segal crossed the border of Israel together with the forces of the Israel Defense Forces", - stated in a message published in Telegram.
It is specified that the man is currently on his way to a primary reception center in southern Israel, where he will meet with his family members. According to the New York Post, the man had been in captivity for 484 days and became the first US citizen released under the ceasefire agreement. He was kidnapped along with his wife Aviva, who was released in November 2023.
Earlier in the day, the IDF also said Hamas had released two more hostages. According to the latest Israeli army reports, one of them, Yarden Bibas, is already on his way to the hospital.
Prior to that, on January 30, Hamas handed over eight hostages to the Israeli military: first 19-year-old IDF soldier Agam Berger, and later 29-year-old Arbel Yehud, 80-year-old Gadi Moses, and five Thai nationals. Inside Israel, all were sent for medical examinations.
On January 19, the first phase of the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas went into effect. During this phase of the deal, which will last 42 days, 33 Israeli hostages and about 1,900 Palestinians are to be released. On the same day, the movement released three hostages in exchange for 90 Palestinian prisoners, and on January 26, four military girls were handed over to the Red Cross. They were subsequently flown back to their homeland.
The situation in the Middle East escalated on the morning of October 7, 2023, when Hamas launched a massive rocket attack from the Gaza Strip into Israel. On the same day, Israel began retaliatory strikes.
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