Chapel Hill native Keith Siegel was released by Hamas two weeks ago after being held hostage for more than 480 days in Gaza.
On Sunday, his sister, Lucy Siegel, told WRAL News that her family endured fear and anxiety as they waited for his release.
She resolved to remain strong during his time in captivity.
“I didn’t allow myself to got to that place of fear, anxiety and negativity,” she said. “I chose not to do that.”
Keith Siegel was kidnapped along with his wife Aviva on Oct. 7, 2023, when Hamas militants attacked Israel’s borders, killing 1,200 people and abducting dozens of others. Aviva was released more than a month after the war’s start.
While refusing to have negative thoughts was Lucy Siegel’s method of coping, it was Keith Siegel’s way of surviving his 484 days of torture, lack of information, sanitation and food and water.
Hamas released Keith on Saturday, Feb. 1, after Israel and Hamas agreed to a five-week ceasefire. During the ceasefire, Hamas said it would release more than 30 hostages. His family greeted him hours after his release.
Days later, Lucy Siegel and her husband were on a plane to Israel to reunite with her brother.
More than two weeks later, the reunion is still hard for her to put into words.
“Just tears of joy when his children got to hug him and Aviva got to hug him,” she said, adding that he detailed how he survived those conditions.
“Most of the time, Keith was not allowed to speak. If he was given permission, it had to be a whisper,” she said.
According to Lucy, Keith would have imaginary conversations with his loved ones, including his wife and children. He would also have imaginary conversations with his mother, who passed away before he was released. Lucy also said Keith was moved more than 30 times, but he managed to keep track of time.
“Each day throughout the day, he would repeat to himself the day of the week, the month and the year, over and over and over,” Lucy said.
Lucy said she and her brother never told their mother that Keith was a hostage before she died, adding that she and her brothers don’t regret that decision.
“I have a daughter, and I can’t imagine anything worse than losing a child,” she said.
Now, Keith and his family are ready to move forward with their lives with more hope than fear, but Lucy said it’s not easy.
“I try to stay on the side of there are people who care in this world, they do love and they do want a future for all,” she said.
Keith and Aviva Siegel are now living on the Kibbutz in Israel, where Aviva was moved following her release. Lucy Siegel said both Keith and his wife plan to visit Chapel Hill at some point.
