An American Israeli man who was held captive by Hamas has advised the BBC that US President Donald Trump has the facility to safe the discharge of the remaining hostages and finish the battle in Gaza.
Keith Siegel, 66, was kidnapped from Kibbutz Kfar Aza in the course of the Hamas-led assaults on Israel on 7 October 2023. He was launched this February after 484 days in captivity underneath a ceasefire deal that Trump helped dealer simply earlier than he took workplace.
He was taken alongside along with his spouse, Aviva, who was held for 51 days earlier than being freed throughout an earlier ceasefire.
Mr Siegel was talking forward of a gathering between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Trump on the White Home on Monday night.
In an interview in Tel Aviv, he thanked Trump for securing his personal launch and stated the president may now do the identical for the remaining 50 hostages, as much as 20 of whom are believed to nonetheless be alive.
“I consider he has numerous energy, energy and talent to place stress on those who must be pressured, on either side so as to get the settlement, get the deal signed, and get all of hostages again and convey an finish to the battle,” he stated.
Trump has stated he hopes a brand new ceasefire and hostage launch deal will likely be agreed this week, however it seems there are nonetheless vital gaps between Israel and Hamas.
The 2 sides resumed oblique talks in Qatar on Sunday night however they ended after three hours with no breakthrough, in keeping with a Palestinian official.
Earlier than he flew to Washington DC, Netanyahu stated he believed his assembly with Trump may “undoubtedly assist advance that consequence we’re all hoping for”.
It’s believed the plan contains the staggered launch of 10 dwelling hostages and the our bodies of 18 lifeless hostages in change for Palestinians held in Israeli jails.
Hamas stated on Friday that it had delivered a “constructive response”. However a Palestinian official stated it had requested a number of adjustments, together with a US assure that hostilities wouldn’t resume if negotiations on an finish to the battle failed – an thought Netanyahu has beforehand rejected.
ReutersMr Siegel described in vivid element how Hamas members beat and taunted him, and stated he was nonetheless haunted by the torture of a feminine captive he witnessed.
He stated Hamas operatives had moved him by means of the streets of Gaza, generally in daylight, to 33 completely different areas in the course of the course of his captivity.
When requested whether or not he would help a deal which launched the hostages however noticed Hamas stay in energy in Gaza, he replied: “It is of the best precedence and urgency to get the entire 50 hostages again as quickly as potential.”
However he continued: “We can not let Hamas proceed to threaten individuals and to kill and homicide individuals, and I believe Hamas is liable for demise on either side.”
Gaza’s Hamas-run well being ministry says greater than 57,000 individuals have been killed there since Israel launched army operations in response to the 7 October assaults, throughout which about 1,200 individuals have been killed in Israel and 251 others taken hostage.
I requested Mr Siegel, as he continues to marketing campaign for the discharge of the remaining hostages, whether or not his ideas additionally deal with the struggling of the Gazan inhabitants.
“I consider that peace and safety for all individuals and freedom… are primary human rights that each individual deserves,” he stated.
“I believe it is the duty of all management to make sure that that occurs. Any harmless individual that’s damage or killed or murdered is one thing that I hope or I dream won’t occur.”
Further reporting by Samantha Granville
