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Federation Statement on Release of Three More Hostages From Gaza

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 1, 2025

Below please find a statement from Joy Sisisky, President and CEO of the Jewish Community Federation and Endowment Fund of the Bay Area, in response to the release of three hostages from Gaza today, including American-Israeli Keith Siegel:

“The Federation is relieved to see that Keith Siegel, Ofer Kalderon, and Yarden Bibas have been freed from Gaza after being held hostage for nearly 16 months. It is heartening to see Keith, an American-Israeli, reunite with his wife Aviva, who was kidnapped and released in November 2023, and Ofer return to his four children, two of whom were also former hostages.

“We now join all of Israel in sending strength to Yarden, whose wife, Shiri, and their two young boys, Ariel and Kfir, remain in captivity and whose fates remain unknown. Our thoughts are with the entire Bibas family during this wrenching time.

“We will not forget the 79 other hostages who have languished in Gaza for 484 days and are awaiting their release. We cannot rest until every last one of them is home.”


ABOUT JEWISH COMMUNITY FEDERATION AND ENDOWMENT FUND

For over a century, the Jewish Community Federation and Endowment Fund has harnessed innovation, collaboration, and investment to shape diverse and dynamic Bay Area Jewish communities where people find a meaningful connection to Judaism and one another; and where we work together to better lives and communities locally, in Israel, and around the world. Learn more at jewishfed.org.

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