The family of Keith Siegel, a Chapel Hill man held hostage by Hamas for longer than a year, spoke to the public Monday for the first time since her husband’s release.
Keith Siegel, who was released Saturday after 484 days in captivity, was the first American hostage released as part of the current ceasefire deal between Hamas and Israel, NBC News reports.
“Today,
my heart overflows with a mix of joy and gratitude,” Aviva Siegel, his wife, said. “After 484 days of pain, my
beloved husband, Keith, is finally back in my arms. The relief I feel is
incredible.”
Video from CNN shows Aviva Siegel and her daughter hugging last week when they learned Keith’s name was on the list of hostages due to be released.
Saama Sha-ked, a friend of the family, said this was the update he’s been waiting for for more than 480 days.
“Today, a very big piece of my heart came back,” he said. “He’s such a hero. The fact that he’s alive, Aviva can hug him and his family is able to hug him…is just amazing.”
Keith Siegel was born in North Carolina and grew up in Chapel Hill. He moved to Israel as a young man, where he met his wife, Aviva.
The couple were taken hostage on Oct. 7, 2023, during a Hamas-led attack that killed more than 1,000 people in Israel and led to hundreds being kidnapped.
Aviva Siegel was released 51 days later during a temporary ceasefire deal.
After her release, Aviva Siegel described to WRAL News the conditions she and her husband faced while in captivity. She said she and her husband were in their pajamas when they were kidnapped.
“I didn’t know if I’ll ever see Keith again, and I didn’t know if they’re going to kill me or they’re going to kill Keith … so that day was very, very emotional,” Aviva Siegel said. “I was scared all the time. I was threatened there that I would be killed all the time.”
Aviva Siegel described the conditions for hostages as “the worst conditions any human being should be in,” saying, “They didn’t have any food. They were just left there alone in a place that they couldn’t even stand up straight because it was so narrow.”
She said she nearly died underneath the ground.
“Keith and I were sure that we were going to die,” she said. “All we did is lay down on the floor on a filthy, dirty mattress and try to breathe.”
On Monday, Aviva Siegel pleaded for the release of 79 other hostages still in captivity.
“As I hold him close, my thoughts are with the 79 families who
are still in agony, waiting for their loved ones’ return,” she said. “All of our hearts
remain broken until every single one of them is home.”
She also thanked the government of Israel “for making the brave decision to bring the hostages home.”
“The hardest part is ahead of us, and I trust you to see this deal through,” she said.
After her release, Aviva Siegel said she and her family traveled the globe to continue the fight for her husband’s freedom.
“We
never stopped believing Keith would come home,” she said. “The support from people around
the world – your prayers, your messages, your strong stand with us – kept us
going. Now, I ask you to give that same love to the 79 still waiting. They need
us; they need you. Until they are home, our mission isn’t complete.”
After Keith Siegel’s release, Gov. Josh Stein released the following statement on X:
Anna and I are rejoicing that at long last, Keith Siegel is free from Hamas and reunited with his family. Let us celebrate for the families who are finally reunited and continue working towards the freeing of all American hostages and a lasting peace for the region. There has been too much suffering.
“Reflecting
on my own captivity, the darkness, the fear, the unknown – I remember the hope
that kept me alive,” Aviva Siegel said. “Keith went through almost 16 months of this nightmare.
Keith is finally home, and now we can both start to heal together. While my
family is united, I stand here for those who are still separated from their
loved ones.”
