Quotes
You can see that he's lost a lot of weight, but he's walking and talking, and you can still see the Keith we know,
said Siegel's niece, Tal Wax Certainly, it's an indescribable feeling, both sad and joyful, as we leave behind so many still in captivity,
said Mohammad Kaskus, a recently released prisoner We continue to pray for the Americans and all of the remaining hostages held in captivity in Gaza by Hamas. We stand with them and their families. All the hostages must be brought home,
For more than a year, my team and I met with his family, including his wife Aviva, who was once a hostage herself. I was continuously inspired by their strength and resilience as they did everything in their power to ensure he was not forgotten. My thoughts and prayers are with them and with all the families of the hostages today, all of whom have suffered so much,
We join all those around the world who are celebrating his release and the release of other hostages in recent days and weeks,
I look forward to the remaining hostages, including additional Americans, being reunited with their families soon,
Ofer Kalderon is free! We share the immense relief and joy of his loved ones after 483 days of unimaginable hell. Our thoughts are with Ohad Yahalomi, still in the hands of Hamas, and with his family. France is doing everything it can to secure his release without delay."
French President Emmanuel Macron wrote on Saturday Welcome home, Yarden Bibs, Ofer Calderon and Keith Siegel. Together with all the citizens of Israel and many around the world, my wife and I embrace you upon your return home. Our thoughts are now with Shiri, Ariel, and Kfir Bibas, and all of our abductees. We will continue to work to bring them home. The people of Israel are alive."
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu wrote on X, formerly Twitter, on Saturday Today, Americans celebrate the return of American-Israeli citizen Keith Siegel and two Israelis who were held captive by Hamas terrorists since October 7, 2023. President Trump and his Administration have worked diligently to secure their release and are committed to freeing all remaining hostages."
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a statement issued Saturday Please respect his privacy and give him the space he needs so that his body and soul can begin to recover,
Everybody's okay, everybody's alive
Kalderon's daughter Gaya can be heard telling him We are sorry it took so long, Ofer,
When the BBC refers to babies and children as ‘prisoners’, when they are hostages taken by Hamas terrorists, you know that the reputation of our national broadcaster is in the gutter”,
Another wrote ... while a third described the slip of tongue as “dismal”. Confirmation in the last couple of hours, first from Hamas, that three Israeli prisoners, all men this time, will be released tomorrow and then we will see 90 Palestinian prisoners freed from Israeli jails.”
Speaking on the BBC’s news channel on Friday, Mr Schiller said They just keep bending over backwards to twist the narrative, but the truth is plain: Kidnapped civilians are hostages not ‘prisoners’.”
It's amazing, amazing! A year-and-a-half is culminating in this moment,
I hope that this is a sign of the rebirth of the people of Israel, not just of Ofer, not just of the hostages,
he said, overcome with emotion We have waited for this moment for a very long time."
French-Israeli hostage Kalderon's uncle Shemi told AFP We now have 6,000 cases ready to be transferred, and more than 12,000 cases that are in dire need of treatment,
A number of victims are still under the rubble and on the roads, and ambulance and civil defense crews cannot reach them,
