Freed Israeli hostage recounts 484-day nightmare in Gaza

More than four months since his release from Gaza, former hostage Keith Siegel bears the mental scars of 484 days of captivity in destroyed buildings and tunnels in the hands of Palestinian militant group Hamas.The 66-year-old Israeli-American and his wife Aviva were among 251 hostages seized from residential communities along the Gaza border, army bases and a music festival on October 7, 2023.In a recent interview with AFP, Siegel told of physical and sexual abuse that he had experienced and witnessed in captivity, and of the extreme stress of not knowing if he would ever see his family again.In one incident, he recalled how his captor, out of the blue, pulled out a gun and said: “I’m going to kill you now.””Then he said, ‘now you’re dead’ and laughed,” added Siegel, wearing a t-shirt with the words “Bring them home now”, a call to free the remaining 52 hostages still in Gaza after more than 20 months.One of the locations where Siegel was held was so far underground that he was “gasping for breath”, he recalled.”It was the most horrendous, or one of the most horrendous, situations that I was in.”He was first held with his wife, then with other hostages, as well as spending many months alone.In total, he was moved throughout the Gaza Strip around 33 times, hidden inside tunnels or in bombed-out buildings and private homes.During the darkest moments, Siegel said he used mindfulness techniques to stay strong, having long, imaginary conversations with family and friends.- Nationality checks -Throughout his ordeal, Siegel said he had focused on staying alive so he could see his wife, their four children and grandchildren.”There were peaks of anxiety, fear and just the torture of not knowing, the uncertainty of not knowing,” he said.”I promised myself that I must return and was not able to think that I would not return. I think that gave me a lot of strength psychologically to get through the days.”Recounting some of the lowest points of his lengthy captivity, Siegel said one of his biggest fears initially was Hamas finding out that he was a US citizen, concerned that it could mean separating from his wife.”At the very beginning, on October 7, they asked us all our names, our ages, where we’re from, and if we have another nationality, citizenship… I said that I did not,” he said.”I was worried that they might release me (without Aviva), because I’m an American citizen.”She was released 51 days after the 2023 attack — more than a year before he was, both under short-lived truce deals.Siegel said he experienced taunts about his wife and daughter, and his genitalia, as well as extreme physical abuse that in two instances left him with broken ribs.- ‘Medieval-style torture’ -But it was witnessing the mistreatment of other hostages that made Siegel pause for breath during the interview and tear up.”I witnessed a woman being tortured, literally,” he said, describing it as “medieval-style torture”.”She was on her back, her hands were bound together, and also her feet, and they had put… tape, or a piece of material around her mouth so she couldn’t talk,” Siegel said.”There was a man standing behind her with a metal rod that had a sharp point at the end of it and it was on this woman’s forehead, and he was applying pressure.”Siegel did not name the woman, but his description matches an account given by released hostage Amit Soussana, in media interviews in which the 41-year-old lawyer said her captors had tried to make her confess to being an Israeli soldier.For Siegel, having to watch the torture and being powerless to stop it still gives him “terrible thoughts”.”I just felt paralysed,” he said. – ‘Bring the hostages home’ -Free now, Siegel remains fascinated with the departure “presents” handed over by his captors the day he left.Inside a paper bag with a Hamas logo, there was a gold embossed “release certificate” signed by a commander from the group’s military wing, two key rings with Palestinian flags, and a leather bracelet bearing the same flag.Since returning home, he has become especially active in campaigning for the release of the remaining hostages.Clutching posters of other captives he had spent extended periods of time with — Matan Angrest, Omri Miran, and twins Gali and Ziv Berman –- Siegel called on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US President Donald Trump “to bring an end to the suffering, bring an end to the war and bring the hostages home”.

Freed Israeli hostage recounts 484-day nightmare in Gaza

More than four months since his release from Gaza, former hostage Keith Siegel bears the mental scars of 484 days of captivity in destroyed buildings and tunnels in the hands of Palestinian militant group Hamas.The 66-year-old Israeli-American and his wife Aviva were among 251 hostages seized from residential communities along the Gaza border, army bases and a music festival on October 7, 2023.In a recent interview with AFP, Siegel told of physical and sexual abuse that he had experienced and witnessed in captivity, and of the extreme stress of not knowing if he would ever see his family again.In one incident, he recalled how his captor, out of the blue, pulled out a gun and said: “I’m going to kill you now.””Then he said, ‘now you’re dead’ and laughed,” added Siegel, wearing a t-shirt with the words “Bring them home now”, a call to free the remaining 52 hostages still in Gaza after more than 20 months.One of the locations where Siegel was held was so far underground that he was “gasping for breath”, he recalled.”It was the most horrendous, or one of the most horrendous, situations that I was in.”He was first held with his wife, then with other hostages, as well as spending many months alone.In total, he was moved throughout the Gaza Strip around 33 times, hidden inside tunnels or in bombed-out buildings and private homes.During the darkest moments, Siegel said he used mindfulness techniques to stay strong, having long, imaginary conversations with family and friends.- Nationality checks -Throughout his ordeal, Siegel said he had focused on staying alive so he could see his wife, their four children and grandchildren.”There were peaks of anxiety, fear and just the torture of not knowing, the uncertainty of not knowing,” he said.”I promised myself that I must return and was not able to think that I would not return. I think that gave me a lot of strength psychologically to get through the days.”Recounting some of the lowest points of his lengthy captivity, Siegel said one of his biggest fears initially was Hamas finding out that he was a US citizen, concerned that it could mean separating from his wife.”At the very beginning, on October 7, they asked us all our names, our ages, where we’re from, and if we have another nationality, citizenship… I said that I did not,” he said.”I was worried that they might release me (without Aviva), because I’m an American citizen.”She was released 51 days after the 2023 attack — more than a year before he was, both under short-lived truce deals.Siegel said he experienced taunts about his wife and daughter, and his genitalia, as well as extreme physical abuse that in two instances left him with broken ribs.- ‘Medieval-style torture’ -But it was witnessing the mistreatment of other hostages that made Siegel pause for breath during the interview and tear up.”I witnessed a woman being tortured, literally,” he said, describing it as “medieval-style torture”.”She was on her back, her hands were bound together, and also her feet, and they had put… tape, or a piece of material around her mouth so she couldn’t talk,” Siegel said.”There was a man standing behind her with a metal rod that had a sharp point at the end of it and it was on this woman’s forehead, and he was applying pressure.”Siegel did not name the woman, but his description matches an account given by released hostage Amit Soussana, in media interviews in which the 41-year-old lawyer said her captors had tried to make her confess to being an Israeli soldier.For Siegel, having to watch the torture and being powerless to stop it still gives him “terrible thoughts”.”I just felt paralysed,” he said. – ‘Bring the hostages home’ -Free now, Siegel remains fascinated with the departure “presents” handed over by his captors the day he left.Inside a paper bag with a Hamas logo, there was a gold embossed “release certificate” signed by a commander from the group’s military wing, two key rings with Palestinian flags, and a leather bracelet bearing the same flag.Since returning home, he has become especially active in campaigning for the release of the remaining hostages.Clutching posters of other captives he had spent extended periods of time with — Matan Angrest, Omri Miran, and twins Gali and Ziv Berman –- Siegel called on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US President Donald Trump “to bring an end to the suffering, bring an end to the war and bring the hostages home”.

In New York, Vermeer show reveals art of the love letter

In a special exhibit featuring just three paintings, the Frick Collection in New York is inviting viewers to contemplate the age and the art of seduction by the written word.The show brings together a trio of paintings by 17th century Dutch master Johannes Vermeer: the Frick’s own “Mistress and Maid,” “The Love Letter” on loan from the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam, and “Woman Writing a Letter with her Maid” from the National Gallery of Ireland.They are three of six paintings by Vermeer (1632-1675) that focus on the reading and writing of letters. They also depict interactions between women of different classes. Each painting features a woman and a female servant who has likely become a confidante and an intermediary as her mistress conducts a romantic relationship, said exhibit curator Robert Fucci.”While the contents of the letters in Vermeer’s paintings are not made clear, they are most likely amorous,” he said.”Courtship and love letters were an important part of the artist’s social context and a prevalent artistic theme.”In Vermeer’s era, women had increasing autonomy in choosing their life partners, Fucci noted. “Servants played a crucial role. Employers entrusted them with delivery, especially when messages needed to be shared covertly,” he added. – A debt with the baker – “Vermeer’s Love Letters,” on view until the end of August, is the first show on offer since the Frick reopened its doors in April following a top-to-bottom, $330-million renovation. The 20th century mansion filled with paintings, sculptures, and decorative pieces dating from the Renaissance to the 19th century now has 10 new galleries on its second floor, in what used to be the Frick family’s private quarters.Two of the Vermeer paintings — worth a fortune today — helped the artist’s wife, Catharina Bolnes, settle a debt with a baker after she was widowed with 11 children. The show is the first of the Dutch master’s works in New York since 2001. The intimate offering is in sharp contrast to the sprawling Vermeer retrospective at the Rijksmuseum in 2023. Featuring 28 of his 35 known paintings, that was the largest collection of Vermeer’s work ever assembled in one place, and drew thousands of art lovers.”Vermeer certainly continues to compel people and to inspire people today,” said Aimee Ng, another curator at the Frick.  

Tens of thousands join pro-Palestinian marches across Europe

Tens of thousands of pro-Palestinian protesters marched in European cities calling for an end to the war in Gaza, hours before President Donald Trump said the US military had attacked three Iranian nuclear sites Sunday.In London, AFP journalists saw tens of thousands of protesters, who waved Palestinian flags as they marched through the British capital clad in keffiyeh scarves.In Berlin, more than 10,000 people gathered in the centre of the city in support of Gaza, according to police figures.And in the Swiss capital Bern, march organisers estimated that 20,000 people rallied in front of the national parliament, urging the government to back a ceasefire.Thousands also gathered outside a French trade fair near Paris attended by Israeli defence firms, calling for an end to war profiteering and Israel’s offensive in Gaza.There have been monthly protests in the British capital since the start of the 20-month-long war between Israel and Hamas, which has ravaged Gaza.This Saturday, protesters there carried signs including “Stop arming Israel” and “No war on Iran” as they marched in the sweltering heat.”It’s important to remember that people are suffering in Gaza. I fear all the focus will be on Iran now,” said 34-year-old Harry Baker.”I don’t have great love for the Iranian regime, but we are now in a dangerous situation,” he said, adding that this was his third pro-Palestinian protest.- Regional fears -Saturday’s marches came after Trump announced on social media that the US military had carried out a “very successful attack” on three Iranian nuclear sites.The US president added that after the strikes Iran “must now agree to end this war”.Tehran had said Saturday that more than 400 people had been killed in Iran since Israel launched strikes last week claiming its arch-foe was close to acquiring a nuclear weapon — which Iran denies.Some 25 people have been killed in Israel, according to official figures.One marcher in London, a 31-year-old Iranian student who did not want to share her name, told AFP she had family in Iran and was “scared”.”I’m worried about my country. I know the regime is not good but it’s still my country,” she said.Gaza is suffering from famine-like conditions according to UN agencies in the region following an Israeli aid blockade.Gaza’s civil defence agency has reported that hundreds have been killed by Israeli forces while trying to reach the US- and Israeli-backed aid distribution sites.”People need to keep their eyes on Gaza. That’s where the genocide is happening,” said 60-year-old protester Nicky Marcus.- ‘Scared’ -In Berlin, demonstrators gathered mid-afternoon close to the parliament, some chanting “Germany finances, Israel bombs”.”You can’t sit on the sofa and be silent. Now is the time when we all need to speak up,” said protester Gundula, who did not want to give her second name.For Marwan Radwan, the point of the protest was to bring attention to the “genocide currently taking place” and the “dirty work” being done by the German government.In Bern, demonstrators carried banners calling on the federal government to intervene in the war in Gaza, expressing solidarity with Palestinians.The rally there was called by organisations including Amnesty International, the Social Democratic Party, the Greens and the Swiss Trade Union Federation.Slogans included “Stop the occupation”, “Stop the starvation, stop the violence”, and “Right to self-determination”.Some marchers chanted: “We are all the children of Gaza”.The overall death toll in Gaza since the war broke out has reached at least 55,637 people, according to the health ministry.Israel has denied it is carrying out a genocide and says it aims to wipe out Hamas after the Islamist group’s October 7, 2023 attack on Israel resulted in the deaths of 1,219 people.

Trump’s remarks in full after US strikes on Iran

President Donald Trump delivered brief remarks from the White House late Saturday after the US military carried out strikes on Iranian nuclear sites. Here is what Trump said in full:”A short time ago the US military carried out massive precision strikes on the three key nuclear facilities in the Iranian regime: Fordo, Natanz and Isfahan.”Everybody heard those names for years as they built this horribly destructive enterprise. “Our objective was the destruction of Iran’s nuclear enrichment capacity and a stop to the nuclear threat posed by the world’s number one state sponsor of terror. “Tonight, I can report to the world that the strikes were a spectacular military success. “Iran’s key nuclear enrichment facilities have been completely and totally obliterated. “Iran, the bully of the Middle East, must now make peace. If they do not, future attacks will be far greater and a lot easier. “For 40 years, Iran has been saying, ‘Death to America, Death to Israel.'”They have been killing our people, blowing off their arms, blowing off their legs, with roadside bombs. That was their specialty, we lost over 1,000 people. “And hundreds of thousands throughout the Middle East and around the world have died as a direct result of their hate, in particular, so many were killed by their general Qasem Soleimani. “I decided a long time ago that I would not let this happen. It will not continue. “I want to thank and congratulate Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu. We worked as a team like perhaps no team has ever worked before, and we’ve gone a long way to erasing this horrible threat to Israel. “I want to thank the Israeli military for the wonderful job they’ve done. “And most importantly, I want to congratulate the great American patriots who flew those magnificent machines tonight and all of the United States military on an operation the likes of which the world has not seen in many, many decades.”Hopefully we will no longer need their services in this capacity. I hope that’s so. “I also want to congratulate the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Dan ‘Razin’ Caine, spectacular general, and all of the brilliant military minds involved in this attack. “With all of that being said, this cannot continue. There will be either peace or there will be tragedy for Iran far greater than we have witnessed over the last eight days. “Remember, there are many targets left. Tonight’s was the most difficult of them all, by far, and perhaps the most lethal. “But if peace does not come quickly, we will go after those other targets with precision, speed and skill. Most of them can be taken out in a matter of minutes. “There’s no military in the world that could have done what we did tonight, not even close. There has never been a military that could do what took place just a little while ago.”Tomorrow, General Caine, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, will have a press conference at 8 am at the Pentagon. “And I want to just thank everybody, and in particular, God. I want to just say we love you, God, and we love our great military, protect them. “God bless the Middle East, God bless Israel, and God bless America. Thank you very much. Thank you.”

Trump says US bombs Iran nuclear sites, joining Israeli campaign

President Donald Trump said the US military launched a “very successful attack” Sunday on three Iranian nuclear sites including the Fordo uranium enrichment plant, as Washington joined Israel’s air campaign against Tehran.Trump said a “full payload of BOMBS” was dropped on the underground facility at Fordo and he was set to address the nation at 10:00 pm on Saturday Washington time (0200 GMT Sunday) following his surprise announcement of the strikes.The fresh US military entanglement in the Middle East comes despite Trump’s promises to avoid another of his country’s “forever wars” in the region. Iran had vowed to retaliate against US forces in the region if Washington got involved. “We have completed our very successful attack on the three Nuclear sites in Iran, including Fordow, Natanz, and Esfahan,” Trump said in a post on his Truth Social platform.”A full payload of BOMBS was dropped on the primary site, Fordow.”Trump added that “all planes are safely on their way home. Congratulations to our great American Warriors.” Iranian media confirmed that part of the Fordo plant as well as the Isfahan and Natanz nuclear sites were attacked.Trump spoke to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu after the attacks, while the United States also gave key ally Israel a “heads up” before the strikes, a senior White House official told AFP.In a second post announcing his address to the nation from the White House, Trump said that “IRAN MUST NOW AGREE TO END THIS WAR.”He described it as a “historic” moment for the United States, Israel and the world.Earlier Saturday there were reports that US B-2 bombers — which carry so-called “bunker buster” bombs — were headed out of the United States across the Pacific.Trump did not say what kind of US planes or munitions were involved.- ‘More devastating’ -Trump said on Thursday that he would decide “within two weeks” whether to join Israel’s campaign — but the decision came far sooner.The US president had also stepped up his rhetoric against Iran in recent days, repeating his insistence that it could never have a nuclear weapon.Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian had warned earlier Saturday of a “more devastating” retaliation should Israel’s nine-day bombing campaign continue, saying the Islamic republic would not halt its nuclear program “under any circumstances.”Israel and Iran have traded wave after wave of devastating strikes since Israel launched its aerial campaign on June 13, saying Tehran was on the verge of developing a nuclear weapon.On Saturday, Israel said it had attacked Isfahan for a second time, with the UN nuclear watchdog reporting that a centrifuge manufacturing workshop had been hit.Later Saturday Iran’s Mehr news agency said Israel had hit the southern city of Shiraz, which hosts military bases.Iran’s Revolutionary Guard meanwhile announced early Sunday that “suicide drones” had been launched against “strategic targets” across Israel.Iran denies seeking an atomic bomb, and on Saturday Pezeshkian said its right to pursue a civilian nuclear program “cannot be taken away… by threats or war.”- ‘Continued aggression’ -In a phone call with French President Emmanuel Macron, Pezeshkian said “we do not agree to reduce nuclear activities to zero under any circumstances,” he added, according to Iran’s official IRNA news agency.Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi was in Istanbul on Saturday for a meeting of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation to discuss the conflict.Top diplomats from Britain, France and Germany had met Araghchi in Geneva on Friday and urged him to resume nuclear talks with the United States that had been derailed by the war.Iran’s Huthi allies in Yemen on Saturday threatened to resume their attacks on US vessels in the Red Sea if Washington joined the war, despite a recent ceasefire agreement.The US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency said Friday that, based on its sources and media reports, at least 657 people had been killed in Iran, including 263 civilians.Iran’s health ministry on Saturday gave a toll of more than 400 people killed in the Israeli strikes.Iran’s retaliatory strikes have killed at least 25 people in Israel, according to official figures.Leading US Democrat Hakeem Jeffries said Trump risked US “entanglement in a potentially disastrous war in the Middle East,” while the Israeli army has raised its alert level, permitting only essential activities until further notice.

Trump says US bombs Iran nuclear sites, joining Israeli campaign

President Donald Trump said the US military launched a “very successful attack” Sunday on three Iranian nuclear sites including the Fordo uranium enrichment plant, as Washington joined Israel’s air campaign against Tehran.Trump said a “full payload of BOMBS” was dropped on the underground facility at Fordo and he was set to address the nation at 10:00 pm on Saturday Washington time (0200 GMT Sunday) following his surprise announcement of the strikes.The fresh US military entanglement in the Middle East comes despite Trump’s promises to avoid another of his country’s “forever wars” in the region. Iran had vowed to retaliate against US forces in the region if Washington got involved. “We have completed our very successful attack on the three Nuclear sites in Iran, including Fordow, Natanz, and Esfahan,” Trump said in a post on his Truth Social platform.”A full payload of BOMBS was dropped on the primary site, Fordow.”Trump added that “all planes are safely on their way home. Congratulations to our great American Warriors.” Iranian media confirmed that part of the Fordo plant as well as the Isfahan and Natanz nuclear sites were attacked.Trump spoke to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu after the attacks, while the United States also gave key ally Israel a “heads up” before the strikes, a senior White House official told AFP.In a second post announcing his address to the nation from the White House, Trump said that “IRAN MUST NOW AGREE TO END THIS WAR.”He described it as a “historic” moment for the United States, Israel and the world.Earlier Saturday there were reports that US B-2 bombers — which carry so-called “bunker buster” bombs — were headed out of the United States across the Pacific.Trump did not say what kind of US planes or munitions were involved.- ‘More devastating’ -Trump said on Thursday that he would decide “within two weeks” whether to join Israel’s campaign — but the decision came far sooner.The US president had also stepped up his rhetoric against Iran in recent days, repeating his insistence that it could never have a nuclear weapon.Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian had warned earlier Saturday of a “more devastating” retaliation should Israel’s nine-day bombing campaign continue, saying the Islamic republic would not halt its nuclear program “under any circumstances.”Israel and Iran have traded wave after wave of devastating strikes since Israel launched its aerial campaign on June 13, saying Tehran was on the verge of developing a nuclear weapon.On Saturday, Israel said it had attacked Isfahan for a second time, with the UN nuclear watchdog reporting that a centrifuge manufacturing workshop had been hit.Later Saturday Iran’s Mehr news agency said Israel had hit the southern city of Shiraz, which hosts military bases.Iran’s Revolutionary Guard meanwhile announced early Sunday that “suicide drones” had been launched against “strategic targets” across Israel.Iran denies seeking an atomic bomb, and on Saturday Pezeshkian said its right to pursue a civilian nuclear program “cannot be taken away… by threats or war.”- ‘Continued aggression’ -In a phone call with French President Emmanuel Macron, Pezeshkian said “we do not agree to reduce nuclear activities to zero under any circumstances,” he added, according to Iran’s official IRNA news agency.Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi was in Istanbul on Saturday for a meeting of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation to discuss the conflict.Top diplomats from Britain, France and Germany had met Araghchi in Geneva on Friday and urged him to resume nuclear talks with the United States that had been derailed by the war.Iran’s Huthi allies in Yemen on Saturday threatened to resume their attacks on US vessels in the Red Sea if Washington joined the war, despite a recent ceasefire agreement.The US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency said Friday that, based on its sources and media reports, at least 657 people had been killed in Iran, including 263 civilians.Iran’s health ministry on Saturday gave a toll of more than 400 people killed in the Israeli strikes.Iran’s retaliatory strikes have killed at least 25 people in Israel, according to official figures.Leading US Democrat Hakeem Jeffries said Trump risked US “entanglement in a potentially disastrous war in the Middle East,” while the Israeli army has raised its alert level, permitting only essential activities until further notice.