Live

Israel-Gaza live updates: Hamas to send a delegation to Cairo for negotiations

Hamas will send a delegation to Cairo for hostage and cease-fire negotiations.

ByABC NEWS
Last Updated: April 28, 2024, 5:13 PM EDT

As the Israel-Hamas war approaches the seven-month mark, renewed negotiations are underway to secure the release of hostages taken by the terrorist organization, as Israeli forces continue to prepare for an apparent invasion of the southern Gaza town of Rafah.

Meanwhile, President Joe Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke in a phone call over the weekend, discussing increasing the delivery of humanitarian aid into Gaza and plans for a possible military operation in Rafah, according to the White House.

Apr 28, 2024, 5:22 PM EDT

American hostage's niece opens up about 'surreal' new video

Hanna Siegel, niece of American hostage Keith Siegel, appeared on CBS' "Face the Nation" on Sunday morning and talked about the "surreal" feeling of seeing a recently released video purporting to show her uncle and talked about the possibility of a deal that would free him and other people thought to still be held by Hamas in Gaza.

"We've always believed that he was alive. We have to believe he's alive -- and his wife, my aunt, who was held for 52 days, [was] released in the deal that took place in November, she was with him," Siegel said. "When she came out, she told us he was alive, but this is the first time that we're seeing him, hearing him. It's surreal."

When asked about a potential hostage deal and temporary cease-fire between Israel and Hamas, Siegel said that she does think an agreement "can be reached" and pointed to an earlier deal that secured the release of her aunt and others during a brief pause in the war late last year.

Siegel also said that she believes the new release of purported hostage videos shows that Hamas is signaling they are ready to make a deal.

But she said that she is concerned that it might not be in Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's "political interest to close a deal," though Netanyahu has said his goal is freeing the captives in Gaza as well as dismantling Hamas.

Siegel said that the Biden administration should "think about what they can do directly to bring our American citizens home."

She also said she has felt the "commitment from the Biden administration to get him back," referring to her uncle.

She became emotional talking about how her family missed her uncle during their Passover celebration and had a picture of him to pay tribute.

"I think there's so much swirling in the political realm that it's easy to forget that these are human beings. Keith is a grandfather, he's a husband, he's a brother, he's an uncle," she said.

She was asked whether her family is worried if a potential Israeli invasion of the Gaza city of Rafah, to further target Hamas fighters, could threaten her uncle's safety. She responded that she and her family are "very concerned."

-ABC News' Michelle Stoddart

Apr 28, 2024, 5:08 PM EDT

Hamas to send a delegation to Cairo for hostage and cease-fire negotiations

Hamas will send a delegation to Cairo, Egypt, on Monday to participate in hostage and cease-fire deal negotiations, ABC News has confirmed.

Meanwhile, a senior Hamas official also told the Agence France-Presse on Sunday that the organization has no significant problems with the proposed deal.

"The atmosphere is positive unless there are new obstacles from the Israeli side," the Hamas official said.

-ABC News' Nasser Atta and Yael Benaya

Apr 28, 2024, 1:54 PM EDT

Biden and Netanyahu speak: White House

President Joe Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke Sunday in a phone call, according to the White House.

The two leaders "reviewed ongoing talks to secure the release of hostages," discussed increasing the delivery of humanitarian aid into Gaza and discussed plans for a possible military operation in Rafah, according to a White House readout of Sunday's call.

According to the readout, Biden pointed to a statement he and 17 other world leaders released Thursday calling for Hamas to release the hostages and secure a cease-fire in Gaza.

"The President and the Prime Minister also discussed increases in the delivery of humanitarian assistance into Gaza including through preparations to open new northern crossings starting this week," the White House readout of the call said. "The President stressed the need for this progress to be sustained and enhanced in full coordination with humanitarian organizations."

The readout also said Biden "reiterated his clear position" on a military operation in Rafah.

During the call, Biden also "reaffirmed his ironclad commitment" to Israel's self-defense after an Iranian attack earlier this month, the White House said.

-ABC News' Michelle Stoddart

Apr 28, 2024, 1:09 PM EDT

FBI examining hostage video that appears to show American Keith Siegel, White House says

A video purporting to show American Keith Siegel and an Israeli citizen being held hostage by Hamas terrorists is being examined by the FBI and the Hostage Recovery Fusion Cell, the White House said Sunday.

The video was released on Telegram on Saturday by Hamas and appears to show 64-year-old Siegel and 47-year-old Omri Miran, an Israeli citizen from Kibbutz Nahal Oz, as they speak to the camera under duress.

The men express how much they miss their families and their sadness at missing Passover celebrations. They also ask their families to continue to pressure the Israeli government for a deal.

In response to the video, Siegel's wife and daughters released a video statement.

"Seeing my father today only emphasizes to all of us how much we must reach a deal as soon as possible and bring everyone home. I demand that the leaders of this country watch this video and see their father crying out for help," one of Siegel's daughters, Ilan, said in the video statement.

Siegel's wife, Aviva Siegel, who was also taken hostage and released during the first cease-fire and hostage deal in November, told her husband in the video statement, "Keith, I love you, we will fight until you return."

Shir Siegel, another daughter of the hostage, added, "If you watched the video, you saw that my father knows we are all coming to the rally every week and fighting for him and all the captives. Thank you for being with us. We will not stop fighting together."

-ABC News' Michelle Stoddart

Related Topics