The family of freed American hostage Keith Siegel said he was deprived of both food and sunlight during his 15-months hell.
Now, the 65-year-old North Carolina native is eager to help the hostages still under Hamas captivity in any way he can.
Shir Siegel told reporters Monday that her father, who was freed on Saturday, was kept in inhumane conditions for 484 days by the terrorists, which caused him to lose a drastic amount of weight.
“My father went through something that no person should ever have to go through,” she said.
Siegel, US-Israeli dual citizen from Chapel Hill, told his family that during his time in captivity he saw news coverage of the demonstrations in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem where Israelis in their hundreds demanded the release of the hostages.
Siegel said the rallies gave him the strength to keep going despite the brutal conditions, but not all news was welcome news.
As the hostage negotiations dragged on last year, Siegel said his heart broke at seeing the coverage and how it divided Israelis.
Aviva Siegel, Keith’s wife, thanked President Donald Trump for pushing for her husband’s release as part of the Israel-Hamas cease-fire deal, allowing them to reunite after Hamas kidnapped both of them during the Oct. 7 terrorist attack.
“I didn’t know if I’ll ever see Keith again, and I didn’t know if they’re going to kill me or they’re going to kill Keith,” Aviva said.
“This reunion was made possible thanks to President Trump. Your brave actions have brought Keith back to us. From the bottom of my heart, thank you,” she added.
The couple was taken from their home in Kibbutz Kfar Aza, with Aviva released back in November 2023 during the first round of hostage exchanges.
After seeing the carnage in the kibbutz during his kidnapping, Siegel asked his family to tell him the fate of his neighbors.
“We had to go over a cruel and long list of 64 people, dear to us and loved, and he could not understand that so many of his friends were murdered,” Shir said.
As he recuperates at a Tel Aviv hospital, his family said Siegel was eager to do whatever he can to bring home the remaining hostages in Gaza.
Aviva said they are both calling on Trump and the Israeli government to see the cease-fire deal through and end the nightmare that the other families are going through.
“Mr. President, you are our hope for those that are still in captivity,” Aviva said. “Our hope rests with you to make sure the next stages happen and all hostages return home.
“The hardest part is ahead of us, and I trust you to see this deal through, because it’s the road to healing for all of us,” she added.
With Post wires