Chapel Hill native Keith Siegel held hostage by Hamas freed

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (WTVD) -- Chapel Hill native Keith Siegel, among two other hostages, was released from captivity Saturday morning.

His release took place in Gaza City where he was taken onto a stage wearing a cap, flanked by masked and armed Hamas forces with the waters of the Mediterranean and the destroyed port behind them.

A crowd watched calmly from a short distance away while Hamas photographers on stage and drones above filmed the release.

Siegel walked on his own power, and he will now undergo medical checks before being reunited with his family shortly.

Keith was taken hostage along with his wife, Aviva Siegel in 2023. She was released during the brief 2023 ceasefire and has waged a long campaign to free her husband and the other hostages.

'We can breathe again'

Keith and Aviva have been married for over 43 years. They have four children together and five grandchildren.

This past December Aviva spoke with ABC11 virtually from her daughter's Virginia home. She said what worried her most was Keith would be killed before they were able to get him back home.

"It's not a Democrat or Republican issue," she said in December. "This is a world issue."

Siegel's family released a statement shortly after he crossed over into Israel, saying they were "filled with indescribable excitement" and thanked President Trump "for bringing our father back to us."

"At this very moment, our father is setting foot on the soil of the Land of Israel, and we are filled with indescribable excitement. Finally, after 484 long, terrifying days and nights, full of immense worry for our father, we can breathe again," the statement read.

"Thank you President Trump, for bringing our father back to us. There are now 79 hostages who are also waiting to be reunited with their loved ones. Our hope rests with you. We also wish to thank the governments of Israel and the United States for bringing this blessed deal to fruition-a deal that prioritizes human life and embodies Jewish and Israeli values."

"We are grateful to the incredible IDF soldiers and security forces who risk their lives and bodies, and we send our condolences to the bereaved families who have lost their most precious loved ones for the sake of us all," the statement continued. "You will forever be in our hearts. Only together can we bring everyone home!"

Earlier on Saturday, two other hostages were turned over to the Red Cross in Khan Younis, Ofer Kalderon and Yarden Bibas.

On Monday, February 3, Siegel's niece shared an update on his condition.

ABC News' Jon Haworth contributed to this report.