Contrary to reports that civilian hostage Arbel Yehud will be released before Saturday, there is no agreement on Yehud’s return, according to a source familiar with the details. The Jerusalem Post, However, discussions with mediators are ongoing.
The sources added that Israel will not allow Gazans to move to the northern part of the Gaza Strip until the issue is resolved.
A senior Palestinian Islamic Jihad official told Reuters earlier that the 29-year-old Jew “will be released before Shabbat in accordance with the agreement.”
On Friday, before handing over to Hamas a list of hostages to be freed in the second release of the hostage deal, Israel demanded that one of the four hostages be Jewish.
Yehud was taken hostage on October 7, 2023, along with her boyfriend, Ariel Kunio.
Hamas ignored Israel’s demand and announced that it planned to release the Jews next Saturday instead.
The Prime Minister’s Office said on Saturday that “Israel today received four female soldiers kidnapped by the Hamas terrorist organization, in exchange for the release of security prisoners in accordance with the agreed agreement.”
According to the agreement, Israel will not allow Gazans to cross into the northern Gaza Strip – until the release of the civilian Arbil Jews, who were to be released today, is arranged.
Hamas failed to fulfill its obligations’
A statement from the Prime Minister’s Office echoed an earlier statement by IDF spokesman R. Adam. Daniel Hagari, who said that “Hamas failed to fulfill its obligations to release the first Israeli female civilian hostages as part of the agreement.
Israeli officials have turned to mediators and the United States, demanding that Hamas stick to the cease-fire agreement, which they accuse the group of violating.
The release of civilian hostages such as Jews has resulted in charges of bad faith by Hamas.
An Israeli official said Post“We knew they would try to play games, but from our point of view, this is a violation – even if it stems from internal problems within Hamas in Gaza. It doesn’t matter to us.
Amichai Stein contributed to this report.
