Two Israeli hostages released, one expected later in latest Gaza exchange

1/2/2025 15:53

Palestinian militant group Hamas handed over Israeli hostages Yarden Bibas and Ofer Kalderon on Saturday, with American-Israeli Keith Siegel expected to be transferred later in the latest stage of a truce aimed at ending the 15-month war in Gaza.



The Israeli military confirmed it had received Kalderon, a French-Israeli dual national and Bibas after the two were handed over to a Red Cross official in the southern Gaza city of Khan Younis.



Siegel is expected to be handed over at the Gaza City sea port later on Saturday.



Bibas is the father of the two youngest hostages, baby Kfir, only 9 months old when he was kidnapped by Hamas-led gunmen on Oct. 7, 2023, and Ariel, who was 4 at the time of the cross-border attack.



Hamas said in November 2023 that the boys and their mother Shiri, who was taken at the same time, were killed in an Israeli airstrike. There has been no word on them since.



Israel is expected to transfer 182 Palestinian prisoners and detainees, Hamas said.