Ofer Kalderon who claimed Portuguese nationality through Sephardi ‘amnesty’ was released today
President of the Republic Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa has welcomed the release today of Hamas hostage Ofer Kalderon – a Portuguese-French-Israeli citizen – and said he hopes this release is another step towards realising a permanent ceasefire.
In a note published on the official website of the Presidency, Marcelo referred to the 15 months that Kalderon has been held since the Hamas massacre of October 7, 2023, saying the 54-year-old is “now finally be able to reunite with his family”.
“May this release be another step towards the realisation of the ceasefire and a permanent end to the conflict in the region,” he wrote. When the agreement for a temporary ceasefire and phased hostage releases was first announced, Portugal’s head of state expressed the hope “that the ceasefire will be effective and will contribute to a lasting peace agreement that respects the people, international law and United Nations resolutions, namely the establishment of two states”, Israel and Palestine.
Ofer Kalderon was one of three hostages released today, in a bitter-sweet exchange that was not lost on anyone. With him was Yarden Bibas, 34, and Keith Seigal, 65. Bibas’ release ahead of his wife and baby and toddler sons – the two red haired infants that became symbols of this terrible chapter – seems to add credence to previous reports that they were all killed during one of the many airstrikes in Gaza, as the understanding has been in these hostage releases that women and children were to be freed ahead of any men.
As for Ofer Kalderon, his four children – two of whom were also taken hostage on October 7, 2023, but released shortly afterwards – were beyond overjoyed.
Kalderon obtained his Portuguese nationality while he was a hostage in the Gaza tunnels: his application for nationality was considered a ‘humanitarian case’, and given priority treatment.
natasha.donn@portugalresident.com
