Israelis in Tel Aviv cheer as they watch release of hostage Keith Siegel

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(1 Feb 2025)
RESTRICTION SUMMARY:

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Tel Aviv, Israel - 1 February 2025
1. Zoom out of people cheering at Hostages Square while watching the release of American-Israeli hostage Keith Siegel
2. Zoom in to woman in tears
3. Crowd celebrating while carrying banners and posters of hostages

STORYLINE:
Israelis cheered Saturday from Hostage Square in Tel Aviv, as they watched the release of American-Israeli hostage Keith Siegel.

Hamas has handed Siegel, 65, over to the Red Cross, the third hostage to be released Saturday as part of a ceasefire deal with Israel.

He walked onto a stage set up by the sea in Gaza City before militants handed him over to waiting Red Cross officials.

Earlier, the militants released Yarden Bibas, 35, and French-Israeli Ofer Kalderon, 54, to the Red Cross in similar scenes in the town of Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip.

All three were abducted during the Hamas-led attack on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, that sparked the war.

The truce, which began Jan. 19, is aimed at winding down the deadliest and most destructive war ever fought between Israel and the Hamas militant group.

The fragile deal has held for nearly two weeks, halting the fighting and allowing for increased aid to flow into the tiny coastal territory.

During the truce's six-week first phase, a total of 33 Israeli hostages are expected to be freed in exchange for nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners.

Israel says it has received information from Hamas that eight of those hostages were either killed in Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023, attack or have died in captivity.

Keith Siegel, originally from Chapel Hill, North Carolina, was taken hostage from Kibbutz Kfar Aza, along with his wife, Aviva Siegel.

She was released during the 2023 ceasefire and has waged a high-profile campaign to free Keith and other hostages.

The dozens of Palestinian prisoners to be released by Israel on Saturday include people serving lengthy and life sentences.

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