Keith Samuel Siegel (65), a resident of Kibbutz Kfar Aza, was violently taken captive alongside his wife Aviva (63) during the Hamas terror attack on Oct. 7, 2023. While Aviva was released after 51 days as part of the initial Nov. 2023 agreement, Keith remained in captivity – marking their last encounter. The kidnapping was brutal: the couple was forcibly removed through their safe room window, with Keith suffering broken ribs and a gunshot wound to his hand.
Abducted in their own vehicle and transported to Gaza, they endured 13 relocations during their time together, with Keith severely injured. Aviva shared: "For five weeks, he was in too much pain to be touched. Breathing and sitting were tremendous struggles, yet they continuously forced him to stand." She courageously recounted their final moments: "He lay on the mattress. We embraced, shed tears, I apologized for having to leave, and bid farewell."
As a US citizen who immigrated to Israel at 21, Keith's case has drawn attention from American officials pushing for his release. His anticipated return as part of the deal's third phase was first reported by American media outlets. During Passover in April 2024, Hamas released proof of life footage showing Keith and fellow hostage Omri Miran. In the undated video, Siegel offered reassuring words: "I want to tell my family that I love you very much, I have very beautiful memories from last Passover when we all celebrated together, it's very important to me that you know I'm okay, and I really hope you are too."
Tragedy struck in December when his 96-year-old mother passed away in the US. His daughter wrote poignantly: "My father was taken from home by terrorists and is in dark tunnels, he couldn't say goodbye to his mother," adding that he "couldn't be with us at the cemetery, couldn't say goodbye to the woman who raised him and loved him all his life."
The Siegels, who have shared 43 years of marriage, are parents to Shai (40), Gal (37), Elan (32), and Shir (28), and proud grandparents of five. Keith's career as a pharmaceutical representative and his family connections – two brothers overseas and one in Israel – paint a picture of a man deeply rooted in both countries. Known for his optimism, he became a source of strength for his wife and fellow female hostages. Aviva revealed their shared survival strategy: a nightly ritual of finding something positive in each day, despite their circumstances. "There were difficult days, but we always looked for the good in every situation." Keith would regularly visit his daughter Ilan's home in the Jezreel Valley, where he would settle into his favorite corner, play with the grandchildren, and eventually doze off – a routine Elan yearns to see again. "Every now and then I wash the pillows and the cover, and I tell myself, come on, everything here is clean, he'll be back to sit here any moment. And I believe he will return to fall asleep in that spot again.'"
