After more than 15 months in captivity, the freed hostages now face a difficult reintegration process, according to former hostages’ testimonies.
The family of Israeli hostage Ofer Kalderon expressed gratitude to France and former U.S. President Donald Trump for their role in his release.
“Ofer is finally home after 484 days in hell,” said Sharon Kalderon, his sister-in-law, during a press conference at Sheba Medical Center in Israel.
His brother, Nissan Kalderon, emphasized the long and difficult journey ahead for both Ofer and his family.
Hostage Release as Part of Truce Deal
Hamas freed three hostages in Gaza on Saturday, including French-Israeli Ofer Kalderon, American-Israeli Keith Siegel, and Argentinian-Israeli Yarden Bibas.
Kalderon, 54, was abducted from Kibbutz Nir Oz, along with his teenage children Sahar and Erez, and his ex-wife Hadas. They were freed during the ceasefire in 2023.
In exchange for the three hostages, Israel released 183 Palestinian prisoners in the fourth round of exchanges between Israel and Hamas.
The first phase of the six-week truce mandates the release of 33 hostages and nearly 2,000 prisoners. It also includes the return of Palestinians to northern Gaza and an increase in humanitarian aid to the region.
Uncertain Future as Second Phase Negotiations Begin
Next week, Israel and Hamas will enter negotiations for the second phase of the ceasefire. The goal is to secure the release of remaining hostages and extend the truce indefinitely.
If both parties fail to reach an agreement, the war could resume in early March. The ongoing conflict and hostage situation continue to shape regional tensions.