Israel hostage rescue: Americans with loved ones held in Gaza hope for cease-fire deal

Families of more the more than 100 hostages still held by Hamas in Gaza say the rescue brought hope and fear about their relatives.

TEL AVIV — Celebrations erupted across Israel on the news that four hostages held by Hamas, including 26-year-old Noa Argamani, had been rescued in a high-stakes military operation in central Gaza over the weekend. 

But for the dozens of families whose relatives remain captive, the news brought mixed feelings: joy for those finally reunited with their loved ones after eight long months since they were taken in Hamas’ Oct. 7 attacks, but also despair that their own loved ones weren’t among those saved.

When she first heard about Saturday’s rescue, Aviva Siegel, who was held hostage by Hamas for weeks before being released as part of a landmark deal in November, said she was “so happy, I was jumping into the air.”

“Then, two minutes later, it took me to the sad part of the whole story — worried and worrying about all the hostages,” she told NBC News in an interview in Tel Aviv on Tuesday.

Among the more than 100 hostages who remain held by Hamas is her husband, Keith Siegel, one of several dual American and Israeli citizens remaining in Gaza after the couple were taken hostage from kibbutz Kfar Aza on Oct. 7. 

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/israel-hostage-rescue-hamas-families-captives-gaza-rcna156522

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