‘How dare you' – former minister Alan Shatter criticised in committee on Israeli settlements bill
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The Irish Sun
an hour ago
- The Irish Sun
Dad who endured 484 days in Hamas hands reveals horror sight of captors torturing woman with pole will haunt him forever
A GRANDAD tortured and abused by Hamas terrorists while held hostage for 484 days has told of the one thing that will haunt him forever. Keith Siegel and his wife Aviva were brutally kidnapped from kibbutz Kfar Aza near the Gaza border on October 7, 2023. 6 Keith Siegel was held hostage for 484 days Credit: keith & aviva siegel 6 The moment Keith was reunited with his family, including wife Aviva, centre Credit: keith & aviva siegel 6 Aviva Siegel said she cannot get her life back on track until the remaining hostages are freed Credit: AFP Between 10 and 15 vicious, armed Hamas terrorists broke into their home, dragging them out of their safe room at gunpoint. Both were injured as the brutes forced the couple to take them to their car, which they used to drive the terrified pair across the border. Keith and Aviva, who have been married for more than 40 years and share four children, were then pushed into an extremely cramped tunnel for three days. Before Aviva's release 51 days later, they were moved 13 times, while Keith was relocated 33 times before he was freed earlier this year. More on Israel Speaking of her harrowing experience in captivity, Aviva said: "Most of the time, I just wanted to die. "It was too much for me, a human being, going through what I went through and to see what the Hamas terrorists did to Keith and the girls [other hostages]". American-Israeli Keith, 65, spent a shocking 484 days in captivity before he was finally released on February 1. At the Israeli Embassy in London yesterday, brave Keith recounted his agonising experience. Most read in The Sun "I was held for 484 days, out of which six months I was alone," he said. "I was locked up in a room by myself. I was disconnected totally from any media and I had no idea what was going on a lot of the time. Moment last known living US hostage kidnapped on Oct 7 is reunited with his family after finally being released by Hamas "Terrorists kicked me, spat on me and cursed me for no reason. "I was threatened with death several times. I had guns pointed at me, rifles and pistols. And they threatened to kill me. "I said nothing. I was instructed to lie down on the floor on my back, and that's what I did." But despite his horrifying ordeal at the hands of merciless Hamas terrorists, the dad said it was their treatment of a female hostage that disturbs him the most. Keith added: " I witnessed a woman being tortured. And when I say torture, I say it in a literal sense. "This woman, they had tied her hands together at her wrists. They had tied her feet together at her ankles. "They had covered her face with tape. They had put her down on her back on the floor. "They called me to come into this room where the woman was lying, and there were three terrorists in the room. "Two of them were taking turns beating her with a rod. And the third one was holding a metal rod with a sharp pointed end, which he put on her forehead. 6 The couple were abducted from their home in kibbutz Kfar Aza Credit: keith & aviva siegel 6 Keith and Aviva in happier times Credit: keith & aviva siegel 6 The couple share four children and five grandchildren Credit: keith & aviva siegel "He was standing behind this woman, holding the rod and applying pressure to her forehead with the sharp end. "It haunts me to this day." Aviva, meanwhile, detailed the heartbreaking toll her time in captivity continues to take on her life - which she says she can't get back on track until the final hostages are freed. The mum said: "One time, the Hamas terrorists took us underneath the ground and I was sure I was going to die. "Keith looked at me and said 'I don't have any air'. We were left there to die. "They didn't care about us. Everything was taken away from us. "There wasn't a minute that I could say to myself okay, relax. I ahd the feeling they were going to kill me all the time or they were going to kill Keith. "I was worried about him all the time. "I was starving all the time. I had to beg for water. Still today, I need water next to me all the time. "I cannot lock myself in a bathroom because I am scared after I was locked in rooms there and taken underground." It comes as 50 hostages dragged into Gaza on October 7 remain trapped. Israel believes at least 27 are dead. What happened on October 7? ON October 7 2023, militants of Hamas and other Palestinian nationalist groups launched co-ordinated armed attacks in the Gaza Envelope of southern Israel. The perpetrators had managed to bypass Israeli defences to para-glide across the border, in what became the first invasion of the territory since the 1948 Arab-Israeli War. The horror coincided with the Jewish celebration of Simchat Torah, and initiated the ongoing Israel-Hamas War. A barrage of around 4,300 rockets were launched on Israel from the Gaza Strip in the early hours of October 7 before vehicles and powered paragliders crossed the border. The Hamas fighters attacked military bases and massacred civilians in 21 communities, including Be'eri, Kfar Aza, Nir Oz, Netiv Haasara, and Alumim. The first civilian attack started at 6.29am at the Nova Music Festival site at Re'im, just three miles from Gaza. More than 360 revellers were cut down as they desperately tried to flee. Across October 7, an estimated 1,139 people were massacred and another 250 civilians and soldiers were taken hostage into Gaza. Aviva and Keith, who are grieving the deaths of 64 people from their kibbutz killed during the atrocity, continue to battle for their freedom - travelling the world to campaign and share their testimonies. "We haven't come back to life because we worry about the hostages that are still there," Aviva said. "We know what they're going through. "We come from a community that are peacemakers and we've always been like that. "We know of so many hostages... treated like they're not human beings. "And we are here as witnesses to tell the world that if we leave the situation to be like that and the hostages there, that means anybody in the world can do whatever they want to. "They can rape. They can burn. They can starve. They can do whatever they want to. "This war needs to stop and the world needs to stand for humanity. "I can't go back to my life. All I do is think about all these hostages that are innocent, that just need to come home." It comes as Donald Trump continues to push for a peace deal between Israel and Hamas - including the release of the hostages. US Envoy for Hostages Adam Boehler this week argued a deal to free the final captives is "closer than it's ever been".
Irish Examiner
2 hours ago
- Irish Examiner
Amnesty International chief slams 'fearmongering' after Ibec comments on Occupied Territories Bill
There has been 'fearmongering' in attempts by some bodies to 'derail' the introduction of the Occupied Territories Bill, the head of Amnesty International has said. The organisation's secretary general, Agnès Callamard, has praised the Irish Government for its plans to ban trade with Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories. Ms Callamard said the EU has 'betrayed its principles through its shameful decision not to suspend the EU-Israel Association Agreement'. 'The EU's refusal to take action to hold Israel accountable highlights the need for Ireland and other likeminded member states to urgently take unilateral or concerted steps to bring their actions in line with international law, which takes precedence over both EU and national law,' Ms Callamard said. 'Despite the fearmongering and efforts by certain parties to derail the bill, Ireland must stay firm in its convictions and commitment to justice." It comes after comments from the director general of Ibec, Danny McCoy, criticising the Government for introducing the bill, warning it is damaging Irish interests in countries like the US. 'We're not talking about millions here,' Mr McCoy said. 'This is not about actually helping in any material way. It's symbolism and moral positioning, and so on. However, with moral positions, you can also reveal hypocrisy.' Ms Callamard said passing the legislation would 'set a strong example' to other EU countries to unilaterally suspend co-operation with Israel. Ms Callamard said: It cannot be 'business as usual' while Palestinians are starved and slaughtered while seeking aid or under relentless Israeli attacks in Gaza, or killed and forcibly displaced by state-backed Israeli settler violence, devastating military operations and suffocating movement restrictions in the West Bank. 'From its own experiences of colonization, famine and conflict to its leading role in international efforts to end apartheid in South Africa, Ireland has repeatedly shown that it can stand up to bullies and consistently punched above its weight in global diplomacy.' The Oireachtas Justice Committee is currently undertaking pre-legislative scrutiny of the Occupied Territories Bill, with witnesses appearing in recent weeks to discuss the proposed laws. There has been some criticism of the legislation for not going far enough, as it only deals with trade and not services. Read More
Irish Daily Mirror
2 hours ago
- Irish Daily Mirror
Taoiseach says Ireland will not be punished by US over Occupied Territories Bill
Taoiseach Michéal Martin has rejected claims that Ireland will be punished by the US over the Occupied Territories bill and said the country will not 'suffer unduly'. After US President Donald Trump threatened 30% tariffs on imports from the EU earlier this week, US politicians have suggested that the bill will not bode well for Ireland. US Republican Senator Lindsey Graham said the bill - which will prohibit trade between the State and Israel's illegal settlements- would not be received well in the US and it 'would not go unnoticed'. Speaking in Cork on Friday, the Taoiseach refuted claims that the bill will harm Ireland economically. He said: 'There are efforts abroad to undermine the integrity of Ireland's position, to misrepresent Ireland's position. We are conscious of that. We will always work to protect our economic interests and the national interest 'We don't want in any way to undermine Ireland. The purpose of the exercise is not that Ireland would suffer unduly in respect of this.' The Taoiseach added that the bill 'has not been mooted' and there is a broader negotiation ongoing between the EU and US on tariffs. He added: "Those negotiations are tough and as you know we have until August 1 to resolve it. That is the context on which tariffs will be discussed and now an individual member state basis." This comes as former minister for justice Alan Shatter heavily criticised the bill as it was given consideration at the Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs on Tuesday. As a member of the Ireland Israel Alliance, the former Fine Gael TD repeatedly referred to the bill as a 'Father Ted' measure. He also compared it to how the Jews were targeted during the Second World War. Responding to this, the Taoiseach said: 'What I would reject very strongly is any suggestion that there is any hint of antisemitism in terms of the Irish position. I think that was wrongly presented by former Minister (Alan) Shatter in his presentation to the Oireachtas committee. "I was dismayed at the language he used. It was false language and it was a very false presentation.' The Taoiseach said the focus needs to be on the thousands of people who have died in Gaza and the ongoing loss. He continued: 'The Irish people are appalled by what is happening in Gaza and indeed across the West Bank. People I meet cannot understand the continued slaughter of children. "Only in the last 48 hours a church was attacked, a Catholic Church was attacked and innocent people were killed. The war needs to stop. Hostages need to be released and the political process and a massive surge in humanitarian aid needs to be facilitated.' Subscribe to our newsletter for the latest news from the Irish Mirror direct to your inbox: Sign up here.
