'Netanyahu wants to keep the war going,' former Hamas hostage says in exclusive interview

An Israeli woman who was held in captivity by Hamas for nearly two months says Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu needs to call for a ceasefire to allow more hostages to be released.

"I have a feeling that Netanyahu wants to keep the war going because he wants to win the war. But he can't keep the war going and get the hostages out," Aviva Siegel told PBS NewsHour co-anchor Amna Nawaz in an exclusive interview. "He needs to go to a ceasefire and then get them out. And he needs to get them out now as quick as possible — because 88 days are enough."

Siegel's interview was the first since she was released by Hamas after 51 days in captivity. She and her husband, Keith — residents of Kibbutz Kfar Aza, located just southeast of Gaza —were taken hostage on Oct. 7, when Hamas militants attacked Israel. Hamas released Aviva Siegel and 13 other Israeli hostages on Nov. 26 as part of a swap during a days-long truce. Keith, a native of North Carolina, is still held hostage.

Watch more from the interview on Tuesday's PBS NewsHour.

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