Israel at war: What happened on day 483?

Israel handed over the list of terrorists set to be released on Saturday after the three hostages are released, Army Radio reported Friday night.

The IDF is finalizing preparations on Friday for the return of hostages Yarden Bibas, 35, Ofer Calderon, 54, and Keith Siegel, 65.

Ofer Kalderon, a 54-year-old French-Israeli citizen and a father of four, has spent the last 15 months in Hamas captivity - after being abducted from his family home on Kibbutz Nir Oz alongside two of his children. 

Now, after spending two birthdays in Gaza, Ofer is expected to return to Israel on Saturday as part of the first phase of a new hostage-ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas.

Ofer’s children Sahar, then 16, and Erez, then 12, were released as part of the November deal with Hamas. 

As Sahar was taken from him in the hours before her release, which fell on his 53rd birthday, Ofer told her “Fight for me, I don't want to die in the tunnels,” according to Ynet. 

His family, including his American cousins, have repeatedly called for his release, according to NBC News. Cousin Jason Greenberg said in October that released hostages said Ofer was looking malnourished and had sustained injuries to his arm.

Erez Kalderon. (credit: No credit)

Ofer's brother Nissan found his brother's abduction particularly difficult and reported thinking about suicide as a result.

Freed hostage Adina Moshe reported seeing Ofer and Yarden Bibas confined behind bars in tunnels running underneath Gaza, according to Israel Hayom.

Who is Ofer?

Ofer, a carpenter by trade, was described by his loved ones as a doting father and family man. When not at work or spending time with his family, the Hostage and Missing Families Forum said that he enjoyed cycling, hiking, and flying model airplanes. 

"Ofer is a very warm, very homely type," Ofer's cousin, Eyal Kalderon, told Ynet in November. "He is a very present father, and this is not a cliché. He has four amazing children and he is present in the lives of each and every one of them.”

Eyal added that released hostage Shani Goren had seen Ofer while being held in Gaza, and Ofer prepared food for her from the little rations he had available at the time. 

On October 7, when Hamas invaded southern Israel and massacred some 1200 people, Ofer was hiding in his shelter along with Sahar and Erez. The three initially escaped capture by climbing through the shelter’s window, although they were later caught.

Two relatives of Kalderon were killed that day, niece Noya Dan and grandmother Camela Dan - although their bodies were not discovered for 12 days after the attack. 

Noya Dan, a 12-year-old girl on the Autism spectrum, became wildly known for her love of Harry Potter. Her favorite author, J.K. Rowling, brought international attention to the young girl when it was still believed she was a captive.

Keith Siegel is an American-Israeli citizen set to be released on Saturday in the hostage-ceasefire deal between Hamas and Israel. 

He is one of two American hostages set to be released in the first phase of the deal. 

A total of 33 hostages will return home after 15 months of Hamas captivity. The agreement between the Gaza-based terror group and Israel came only shortly before US President Donald Trump resumed his role in the White House. Trump warned Hamas against further delaying a deal - promising there would be “hell to pay” should the terror group continue holding hostages once he takes power. 

Who is Keith Siegel?

Keith, now 65, was abducted from Kfar Aza on October 7 2023, along with his wife  Aviva who was released as part of the November deal. The pair were driven to Gaza in Keith’s car along with 19 others from their kibbutz.  

Keith’s ribs were reportedly broken on October 7, according to the American Jewish Committee. Concerns for his health were further elevated when Emily Damari, a British-Israeli released in the first week of the deal, called on Hamas to release Keith in her place - citing his health. 

A father to four and grandfather to five, Keith’s family have been active in campaigning for his release.

A picture of Hamas hostage Keith Siegel is worn by his wife Aviva Siegel during the speech Volker Turk United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to the Human Rights Council on his report on the situation of human rights in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and the (credit: DENIS BALIBOUSE/REUTERS)

Aviva left Gaza after her captors reassured her that in a day or two her husband would join her, the couple’s niece told the Media Line. 

Hamas released a video of Keith in April 2024, where he called for demonstrations demanding a deal in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem.

After over a year in Hamas captivity, Siegel will return to the news that his mother passed away in December 2024 - unable to see her son return or say goodbye. 

“My father couldn’t come to say goodbye to his mother, who will never be able to return. My father is a man who has done nothing but good his whole life, who believes in good and loves people,” Keith’s daughter, Elan, said in the post. “Dad won’t be able to stand with us tomorrow at the cemetery; he won’t be able to say goodbye to the woman who raised him and loved him his whole life. A violent and murderous terrorist organization dictates our lives from the Gaza Strip to the powerful United States, and the world is silent.”

Originally from North Carolina, Keith made aliyah to Israel in 1980 where he began working as an occupational therapist.

Yarden Bibas ,35, an Israeli citizen who was kidnapped to the Gaza Strip during the Hamas-led massacres in southern Israel on October 7, 2023, is expected to be released on Saturday.

Bibas was kidnapped and separated from his wife, Shiri, and his two young children, Ariel and Kfir, all of whom remain as hostages. Their status remains unknown, and Israel has been pressing for answers on their condition.

At the time of their kidnapping, Ariel was 4 years old, and Kfir was nine months old. They are the youngest of the hostages taken, and remaining in captivity.

Coming from Kibbutz Nir Oz, the Bibas family lived with their family dog, Tonto. Tonto was killed during the October 7 attacks.

Yarden is a welder by trade. He enjoys music and stand-up comedy, and his family and friends identify him by his sensitive and caring nature, his kind eyes, and his big smile. He is also described as good-humored.

Footage made public in April also shows that Yarden Bibas was alive when abducted, although bloodied from the terrorists’ attacks. 

Yarden and Ariel Bibas, who are both still in Hamas captivity (credit: The Bibas family)

The abduction of the Bibas family

The IDF was able to confirm, after securing footage, that Shiri and her two sons were taken to Gaza alive. After being taken to Khan Yunis on October 7, 2023, they were detained by a terror group by the name of Kataib Mujahadin.

Following the footage release, the family said in a statement, "These videos tear our hearts out. Witnessing Shiri, Yarden, Ariel, and Kfir ripped away from their home in Nir Oz into this hellscape feels unbearable and inhumane.
 
"Kidnapping children is a crime against humanity and a war crime. Ariel and Kfir are victims of monstrous evil. Our whole family has become hostages along with all the hostages.”

Despite the status of the family remaining unconfirmed, Dana Silberman-Sitton, the sister of Shiri Bibas, expressed doubts that the Bibas family would be returned alive. 

Danielle Greyman-Kennard contributed to this report.

Hamas named hostages Yarden Bibas, Ofer Kalderon, and Keith Samuel Siegel on Friday as the three hostages expected to be released from Gaza captivity on Saturday. 

Earlier, the Prime Minister's Office announced that Israel had received the list of hostages set to be released. Once Israeli officials verified and approved the list, they updated the families before publicly releasing the names.

The list was handed over to Mossad chief David Barnea by Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani.

The Hostages and Missing Families Forum Headquarters, a body representing families of hostages remaining in Gaza, celebrated the news of the upcoming hostage release.

|The Hostages Families Forum welcomes the joyous news regarding the expected release of Keith Siegel, Yardan Bibas, and Ofer Kalderon after 484 days in Hamas captivity," the forum stated. "We have both the sacred duty and moral right to bring all our brothers and sisters home. We will not give up or stop at any stage until all hostages return home, down to the last one - the living for rehabilitation and the deceased for proper burial."

Following the chaotic scenes during Thursday’s release of Arbel Yehud and Gadi Moses, Israel has reportedly received assurances that such incidents will not be repeated.

Hostage posters at Hostage Square in Tel Aviv (credit: Chen Schimmel/The Jerusalem Post)

The Israeli government also warned that it may delay the limited reopening of the Rafah border crossing on Saturday if similar disruptions occur.

When asked whether he believed the release would proceed as planned, a senior Israeli official responded, “Yes.” He added, “I assume there will be threats to delay or disrupt, but in the end, it will happen.”

Netanyahu issues warning after chaotic hostage release

On Thursday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed the nation following the return of several hostages from Hamas captivity, including Agam Berger, Gadi Mozes, and Arbel Yehud.

In a video statement posted on X/Twitter, Netanyahu welcomed the freed hostages and reaffirmed Israel’s commitment to ensuring their safety. "Agam, Arbel, Gadi—welcome home! The entire State of Israel embraces you, and so do my wife Sarah and I," he said.

Netanyahu also addressed the chaotic nature of the previous hostage handover, stating, "We witnessed shocking events. We made it clear to the mediators that we would not accept any risk to our hostages."

In a direct warning, Netanyahu threatened, “Whoever dares to harm our hostages will have their blood on their own hands.”

The prime minister credited Israel’s "heroic soldiers" and a firm negotiating stance for the successful hostage release. "We will not accept any violation of the ceasefire agreement," he asserted.

This latest development comes amid ongoing diplomatic efforts to secure the release of the remaining hostages, as well as broader discussions regarding Israel’s security measures and the future of the ceasefire.

Jerusalem Post Staff contributed to this report.

Sayeret Haruv fighters have been operating in Jenin over the past nine days in counterterrorism operations, the IDF announced on Friday.

During the operation, the forces fought in close-quarters combat and eliminated numerous terrorists, and located weapons.

They also found and dismantled more than five explosive labs which contained multiple explosive devices and materials.