For the first time Hamas released a video over the weekend that appeared to show North Carolina native Keith Siegel alive and speaking.
Siegel was kidnapped with his wife, Aviva, in Israel, in the Oct. 7 attack by Hamas. Aviva Siegel, a kindergarten teacher, was released in November, but Keith Siegel remains one of a reported 133 people held hostage by Hamas.
On Saturday Hamas released a video of American-Israeli Siegel and Israeli Omri Miran.
“He is worn and he’s lost weight, he looks frail. But that was Keith talking to us,” said Siegel’s brother Lee.
In the video, Siegel, who appears to be speaking under duress, pleads for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to negotiate a hostage release deal with Hamas.
In an interview with CBS Face the Nation over the weekend, Siegel’s niece said she is worried Netanyahu may not see it in his political interest to reach a deal to get the hostages home. She’s also worried an all-out attack on Hamas in the city of Rafah, which Netanyahu has pledged, could put her uncle’s life in jeopardy.
Lee Siegel, who lives in Israel, didn’t want to get into the politics but tells Spectrum News that urgency is needed by the Israeli government.
“I’m happy with the engagement by the United States … I believe that our government could have shown more urgency, must show more urgency and make this deal happen,” Lee Siegel said. “Hamas is side to this so we can’t leave them out of the equation.”
Members of the Siegel family, as well as other families of American-Israeli civilians held hostage by Hamas, met with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken Tuesday in Israel. The families said the meeting was positive and that Blinken conveyed cautious optimism about the emerging deal for the hostages' release.
Urgency was already a main driver for the Siegel family. Lee Siegel hopes the video will make a deal reality.
His brother is set to turn 65 next week.
“Too many hostages have celebrated birthday, births of children, unfortunately deaths while being hostage. Keith needs to be home for his 65th birthday. You know that’s a week. It’s a big ask. But that’s what we’re asking for,” Lee Siegel said.