Three years after Oct. 7, Chapel Hill native Keith Siegel and his wife reflect on survival and hope :: WRAL.com

Sadness, grief and gratitude…a mix of heavy emotions describes what Chapel Hill native Keith Siegel and his wife, Aviva, are feeling exactly three years after Hamas militants kidnapped them and dozens of others, killing 1,200 people.

“I always feel like when there’s something really bad, you have to prepare for it, you have to take your time,” Aviva told WRAL News in an interview. “It doesn’t just happen the same day. It happens a few weeks before.”

Aviva was released by Hamas more than a month after her kidnapping. She said she was just recently starting to feel free.

“I’ve just started to feel free lately, and I feel like you know things are a little different, and this is trauma that we’re going through, and it’s going to take time,” she said.

Keith was released on February 1, 2025, after Israel and Hamas agreed to a five-week ceasefire. He survived 484 days of torture, as well as lack of information, sanitation, food and water.

“I’ve been thinking a lot about how grateful I am to be alive and reunited with my family, and it’s amazing,” he told WRAL News. “But at the same time, I also feel so sorry and sad for all the people who didn’t survive, and all the people who were hurt physically, emotionally, and I think there are so many, including ourselves, who are dealing with trauma, and I suspect they will in the future.”

Aviva described the torture they faced and the conditions they survived in during this time. She explained how Hamas militants forced Keith to dig his own grave.

She documented what happened in detail and wrote a book called “Survived to Tell” to share their truth.

“It’s really a victory that Keith is here, that I’m here and that we can share the truth,” Aviva said. “It’s going to give everyone … the strength to understand that we as adults need to speak up and just be sure that the next generations will have a better life and nothing like this will ever happen to them.”

As conflict persists in the Middle East, including in Israel, they still cling to hope for peace.

“I hope and pray for peace all over the world, in Israel and everywhere else, so that people can live in peace and security, and have a good life,” Keith said. “Life is short. Life is precious, and our leaders and those around the world have a responsibility to prioritize stabilization and peace.”

The pain and trauma continue for Keith and Aviva. They appreciate all the support from the Triangle.

“I realize that there are so many caring people, so many people who support us without even knowing us, and who are working and advocating for our release and who are showing their care and their support in so many ways… It’s very, very moving and very uplifting, and it brings me a lot of optimism,” Keith said. “I just think things are going well, things will be a lot better, and there are a lot of caring people who will be a part of it.”