Incredible moment American held hostage in Gaza for 15 months is reunited with his family

American-Israeli hostage Keith Siegel has been freed as part of the ongoing ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. 

Looking frail but determined, Siegel, 65, was handed over to Red Cross officials in Gaza City on Saturday morning, marking a significant milestone in the truce negotiations.

Israelis in Tel Aviv cheered and shed tears as Siegel was handed to the Red Cross.

His release follows that of Yarden Bibas and French-Israeli Ofer Kalderon in similar scenes in the town of Khan Younis earlier and comes amid growing international pressure to secure the freedom of remaining hostages and solidify a lasting peace agreement.

Siegel, originally from Chapel Hill, North Carolina, was abducted from Kibbutz Kfar Aza during the October 7, 2023, Hamas-led attack on Israel. 

His wife, Aviva, was released during a brief ceasefire in 2023, but his prolonged captivity left his family and supporters in agonizing uncertainty. 

As kibbutz members gathered to witness his release, there were both tears of joy and lingering sorrow for those still held captive.

'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. 'One of the first things he told us is that he's still vegan.'

Former U.S. President Joe Biden shared a message of hope following Siegel's release:  'I join Americans, Israelis, and people around the world in welcoming home Keith Siegel, an American held hostage by Hamas for 484 days, as part of the ceasefire deal my team and I negotiated. I look forward to the remaining hostages, including additional Americans, being reunited.' 

The ceasefire agreement, which has facilitated multiple exchanges of hostages for Palestinian prisoners, is now entering a critical second phase. 

There were sighs of relief and cheers in a living room where members of the kibbutz watched Siegel's release. Many of those in the room were family friends, who applauded upon seeing his face, while some teared up.

Siegel is one of the highest-profile hostages, now a household name in Israel after his wife Aviva Siegel, also captured in the Hamas attack, mounted a public campaign to bring him home after her own release from captivity in November 2023. 

Speaking after his release, his wife Aviva said: 'The great day has arrived. Yes. I am happy. I am happy. there is no one happier than me. I am ready with everything and I'm going to meet him!'

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is set to meet U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House next week to discuss the future of the truce and the fate of remaining captives. 

While progress has been made, the fragile peace remains at risk, with the possibility of renewed conflict if further negotiations fail.

On the Palestinian side, more than two dozen prisoners were released from Ofer Military Prison and transported to the West Bank, where they were met with jubilant celebrations. 

Many former detainees appeared visibly weakened, their families tearfully welcoming them home.

'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.

Meanwhile, international mediators, including officials from Qatar and Egypt, are working to extend the ceasefire beyond its initial timeline. 

The reopening of the Rafah border crossing has allowed crucial humanitarian aid to enter Gaza, offering a brief respite for war-weary civilians.

 On Saturday, 50 sick and wounded Palestinian children were evacuated for urgent medical treatment, underscoring the dire humanitarian crisis in the region.

The ceasefire's six-week first phase has seen the release of 33 Israeli hostages in exchange for nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners. 

However, challenges remain, as Israel insists on dismantling Hamas while the militant group refuses to free the remaining hostages without a complete cessation of hostilities and an Israeli withdrawal from Gaza.

Israel says it is committed to destroying Hamas. The terror group says it won't release the remaining hostages without an end to the war and a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza.

About 1,200 people, mostly civilians, were killed in the attack that sparked the war.

More than 47,000 Palestinians have been killed in Israel's retaliatory air and ground offensive, over half women and children, according to Gaza's Health Ministry, which doesn't say how many of the dead were militants.

The Israeli military says it killed over 17,000 fighters, without providing evidence.

It blames civilian deaths on Hamas because its fighters operate in residential neighborhoods using its population as human shields.