Credit: Israel Government Press Office
Ofer Kalderon, a citizen of Portugal, France and Israel, was freed by Hamas this Saturday, February 1, 2025, as part of an ongoing ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip. Kalderon was kidnapped during the October 7, 2023, massacre along with his son and daughter, Erez and Sahar. The children were released in a previous deal in November 2023.
"The release of Ofer Kalderon marks the liberation of a true Portuguese citizen, a descendant of a traditional Sephardic family from the former Ottoman Empire in Greece. Historical records of this family can be found in Portuguese synagogues and institutions that once existed in Thessaloniki, such as ‘Kahal Kadosh Portugal,’ ‘Kahal Kadosh Lisboa,’ ‘Kahal Kadosh Évora,’ ‘Portugal Velha,’ and others," stated Gabriel Senderowicz, president of the Jewish Community of Porto.
The current ceasefire between Israel and Hamas came into effect on Sunday, January 19, 2025, and so far, 18 hostages have been released. In total, the agreement aims to secure the release of 33 Israeli hostages in exchange for nearly two thousand Palestinian prisoners. Today, in addition to Kalderon, Keith Siegel and Yarden Bibas were also freed. Bibas' wife and children remain in Gaza, with no information on whether they are alive or dead.
Hostages released so far:
January 19, 2025: Three hostages were released: Romi Gonen, Emily Damari and Doron Steinbrecher.
January 25, 2025: Four female soldiers were released: Karina Ariev, Daniella Gilboa, Naama Levy and Liri Albag.
January 30, 2025: Eight hostages were released, including three Israelis (Agam Berger, Arbel Yehud and Gadi Moses) and five Thai nationals (Pongsak Thaenna, Sathian Suwannakham, Watchara Sriaoun, Bannawat Seathao and Surasak Lamnau).
February 1, 2025: Three Israeli hostages were released: Ofer Kalderon, Yarden Bibas and Keith Siegel.
A Bar Mitzvah after being freed from captivity
Erez Kalderon, 13 years old, son of Ofer Kalderon, celebrated his Bar Mitzvah in November 2024, almost a year after being released during the first ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. At the celebration of the boy’s Jewish coming-of-age, Eyal Kalderon, Ofer’s cousin, told JNS: “It was very difficult. For probably the first time in the last year, we let ourselves celebrate for Erez to feel some joy in almost 400 days".
