Aviva Siegel released after 51 days as husband Keith, a US citizen, still captive
South African citizen and husband, 40-year-residents of Kfar Aza, were taken hostage to Gaza by terrorists driving Siegels’ own car
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Aviva Siegel was released on November 26 as part of a temporary ceasefire deal brokered by Qatar and the United States between Hamas and Israel. Her husband, Keith, remains a captive. This is the story of their capture:
Aviva and Keith Siegel, 64 and 62, have been missing from Kibbutz Kfar Aza since October 7, when Hamas terrorists attacked their community, killing and abducting Israelis and burning kibbutz homes.
Their daughter, Shir Seigel, who also lives on Kfar Aza, was away that weekend, and tried to call her father that morning, who didn’t answer his phone.
Her call to her mother’s phone was cut off, and they wrote on the family Whatsapp group that they couldn’t speak.
It wasn’t until the next day that a Hamas video on Telegram appeared, showing the couple being driven into Gaza in their own car.
Keith is a US citizen and Aviva, also known as Adrienne, was born in South Africa and immigrated to Israel at age 8. The couple have lived on Kibbutz Kfar Aza for the last 40 years.
The two are close to their four children and five grandchildren, and were spending a quiet weekend at home in Kfar Aza, according to family reports.
Aviva and Keith’s son-in-law, Yuval, said that Aviva is known as an extraordinary kindergarten teacher and loving person. Keith works at a pharmaceutical company.
The Times of Israel Community.