In Chan Junus in the south of Gaza, Hamas freed 54-year-old Ofer Kalderon and 35-year-old Jarden Bibas. Men were handed over to the Red Cross and then the Israeli army, which had already transported them to Israel.
Kalderon, who has dual Israeli-French citizenship, was kidnapped along with 2 teenage children from their home in Nir Oz kibbutz. His boy and daughter returned to the country during a short exchange in November 2023. “The Kalderon household and I are very happy to have been freed from this unimaginable hell,” commented French president Emmanuel Macron on page X.
From Kibbutz Nir Oz, Hamas fighters besides kidnapped the full household of the Bibas: Jarden, his wife Shiri, and 2 young children — Ariel and Kfir. According to the Israeli authorities, the destiny of Jarden's wife and sons "is raising serious concerns," but they did not confirm Hamas's information that all 3 were dead.
Later, 65-year-old Keith Siegel was released in the city of Gaza in the north of Palestinian territory, which is besides under the care of the Israeli army. Siegel, born in the United States, was abducted along with his wife Aviva from their home in Kfar Az's kibbutz. The female was released in November 2023.
War in the mediate East. Humanitarian action is ongoing
Israel, on the another hand, began releasing 183 Palestinians in prisons who would be released as part of a Saturday exchange with Hamas," the AP agency informed. Buses with released prisoners have already reached Ramallah, West Bank,” added Reuter.
The first phase of the ceasefire in the Gaza Strip is expected to last until early March. During this time, 33 Israeli hostages and about 1,900 Palestinian prisoners were scheduled to be released. On Saturday, the border crossing between Gaza and Egypt, which will transport wounded and sick Palestinians, is not due to be opened until April 2024.
