Hanna Siegel: A Thing that Worries Me and My Family Is that It’s Arguably Not in Netanyahu’s Political Interest to Close a Deal

BRENNAN: And you have ‘205’ there. That’s the number of days he has been held. In the video, your uncle, under duress, mentions the protests that have been taking place in Israel, pressuring the government for a deal. Do you think that a deal can be reached at this point, and is it up to the United States to close it?”
SIEGEL: I do think a deal can be reached. I mean, we know that. A deal was reached in November. Dozens of women and children were released, including my aunt, Aviva Siegel. So, we know that it’s possible. And I do think that’s really important to remember. the United States plays a critical role. It played a critical role in November. I think, you know, ultimately, this is a negotiation between Hamas and Prime Minister Netanyahu in Israel. And one of the things that really worries my family, and worries me, is that it’s arguably not in Prime Minister Netanyahu’s political interest to close a deal. You know, for us, this is the moment. These videos — as you know, there was a video released a couple of days ago of another American hostage, Hersh Goldberg-Polin. I do think that these two videos are a signal from Hamas that they are ready to make a deal and a reminder that there are American citizens being held, including Keith.”
BRENNAN: “There are 133 hostages that we know of, five of them Americans. Why do you believe it is not in Prime Minister Netanyahu’s interest to cut a deal to bring them home?”
SIEGEL: “I think, you know, there is a lot swirling in the political landscape in Israel. And I’m not here to talk about that. But there have been negotiations going on for months now. We’re at 205 days. There have been deals on the table and they’ve proven elusive. And I worry that that is because of Prime Minister Netanyahu. So, I think that now is the moment. I think — I have faith that we can do a deal now. But I also think that if that isn’t possible, then the Biden Administration should think about what they can do directly to bring our American citizens home.”