Palestinian militant group Hamas announced Friday it will release three Israeli hostages, including a dual U.S. citizen, as part of the ongoing hostage-prisoner exchange with Israel.
Hamas’ armed wing spokesperson, Abu Obeida, stated that Yarden Bibas, Keith Siegel, and Ofer Kalderon will be freed on Saturday. Their release follows the group’s continued negotiations with Israeli officials.
Bibas is the father of nine-month-old Kfir Bibas and four-year-old Ariel Bibas, both abducted during Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023, cross-border attack on Israel. The fate of the two children and their mother, Shiri Bibas, remains unclear. Hamas previously claimed in late 2023 that they were killed in Israeli airstrikes during the early months of the Gaza war.
The upcoming release is part of a broader ceasefire deal that has paused hostilities after more than 15 months of conflict. Under the agreement, 33 hostages held by Hamas are to be freed within the first six weeks of the truce in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners, many of whom have been serving long-term or life sentences in Israeli prisons.
On Thursday, Hamas released three Israeli and five Thai hostages, while Israel freed 110 Palestinian prisoners. Hamas’ prisoner information office confirmed that 90 Palestinian detainees, including nine serving life sentences, will be exchanged for the three Israeli hostages on Saturday.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has faced criticism for not securing an earlier agreement, particularly after the intelligence failure that allowed Hamas-led militants to cross into Israeli communities on Oct. 7. The attack resulted in more than 1,200 Israeli deaths and over 250 hostages taken, marking the deadliest day for Jews since the Holocaust.
Israel’s retaliatory military operations in Gaza have killed over 47,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza’s health ministry. The ongoing conflict has devastated infrastructure in the enclave, where 2.3 million people face severe shortages of food, fuel, and medicine.
Despite sustained Israeli airstrikes and military campaigns, Hamas continues to operate within Gaza, maintaining control over parts of the territory. Israel has also targeted Hamas leaders and Hezbollah militants in Lebanon as regional tensions escalate.
Further discussions are expected ahead of Feb. 4, when the second phase of the hostage deal is set to begin. Negotiators aim to secure the release of 60 additional hostages, including Israeli military personnel, in exchange for more Palestinian detainees. A full Israeli military withdrawal from Gaza remains a key demand in the talks.
If successful, the negotiations could lead to a formal end to the war and initiate reconstruction efforts in Gaza. However, uncertainty remains as tensions between Hamas and Israeli officials persist.
