Three years after Hamas militants seized them during the Oct. 7 attack, Chapel Hill native Keith Siegel and his wife Aviva are back home, grateful for life and the outpouring of support from the Triangle. Their story, marked by months of captivity, torture and loss, now serves as a testimony of resilience and a call for lasting peace.
Captivity and release
Keith was freed on February 1, 2025, after Israel and Hamas agreed to a five‑week cease‑fire. He endured 484 days of torture, deprivation of food, water, sanitation and basic information. Aviva was released a month later, after more than a month in Hamas’ hands. Both describe the experience as a deep, lingering trauma that will require time to heal.
“I have been thinking a lot about how grateful I am to be alive and to be back reunited with my family,” Keith told WRAL News. “But together with that, I also feel so sorry and sad for all of the people that didn’t survive, and all of those that were injured physically, emotionally…”
Aviva echoed the sentiment, noting that she has only recently begun to feel free. “It’s a trauma we’re carrying, and it’s going to take time,” she said.
Documenting the ordeal
During captivity, Hamas forced Keith to dig his own grave, a detail Aviva recounted with horror. She has compiled a detailed account of their ordeal in a forthcoming book titled Survived to Tell, hoping the narrative will give strength to others and ensure future generations understand the cost of such violence.
“It’s really a victory that Keith is here, and that I’m here, and that we could share the truth,” Aviva said. “It will give everybody the strength to understand that we, as grown‑ups, have to speak and be sure the next generations will have a better life, and that nothing like that will ever happen to them.”
Hope for peace and gratitude to the community
Both Keith and Aviva stress their prayers for peace worldwide, especially in Israel and the broader Middle East. “Life is short, life is precious, and the leaders of our world have a responsibility to prioritize stabilization and peace,” Keith added.
The couple also expressed deep appreciation for the caring people of the Triangle who advocated for their release and continue to support them. “Seeing so many caring people, even those who didn’t know us, working and advocating for our release… it is very moving and uplifting,” Keith said, adding that this support fuels their optimism for a better future.
Looking forward
While the trauma remains, the Siegel family is focused on rebuilding their lives, sharing their story, and praying for a world where such atrocities no longer occur. Their experience underscores the importance of faith, family and community in overcoming unimaginable hardship.
Original reporting: WRAL Raleigh — read the source article.
