Hamas agrees to hand over Arbel Yehud, two other hostages on Thursday to open Netzarim Corridor to northern Gaza

The Israeli government announced late on Sunday night that it had reached an agreement with Hamas to release Arbel Yehud, the female civilian hostage who was supposed to have been released on Saturday, along with Agam Berger, and an unspecified male hostage. 

Arbel Yehud is being held by the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) rather than Hamas. She had been reportedly categorized as a soldier rather than a civilian and, as a result, they were demanding more Palestinian prisoners to be released in exchange for her.

Hamas also released the number of remaining hostages still alive. Although the list released by Hamas did not specify exactly which hostages are alive, an Israeli official told The Jerusalem Post the list and information is identical to the information Israeli intelligence already had.

The government claimed the ceasefire agreement had been breached by the failure to release Yehud and the list of the remaining hostages and their condition, and consequently refused to allow Gazan evacuees to return to the north of the Netzarim Corridor until the breach was resolved. 

Following the announcement that Yehud and two other hostages would be released on Thursday, the government said that it would instruct the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) to begin allowing Gaza residents to return to the northern Gaza Strip. IDF Arabic Spokesman Avichay Adraee released an announcement on social media with instructions for Gaza residents detailing when the corridor would be opened for passage. 

“Urgent announcement to the residents of the Gaza Strip based on the agreement reached under the auspices of the mediators, the following instructions will come into effect: Residents will be allowed to return on foot to the northern Gaza Strip via the Netzarim Corridor and through Rashid Street (the sea road) starting at 07:00 AM,” Adraee wrote.

“Vehicles will be allowed to move to the northern sector after inspection via Salah al-Din from 09:00 AM. The transfer of militants or weapons via these routes to the northern Gaza Strip will be considered a breach of the agreement. Do not cooperate with any terrorist entity that may try to exploit you to transfer weapons or prohibited materials,” the directive continued.

#عاجل 🔴 إعلان عاجل الى سكان قطاع غزة بناء على الاتفاق الذي تم التوصل اليه برعاية الوسطاء حيث ستدخل التعليمات التالية حيز التنفيذ:

⭕️سيسمح بعودة السكان مشيًا على الأقدام الى شمال قطاع غزة عبر طريق نتساريم ومن خلال شارع الرشيد (طريق البحر) اعتبارًا من الساعة 07:00 صباحًا… pic.twitter.com/ICaqMzGGSk

— افيخاي ادرعي (@AvichayAdraee) January 26, 2025

The Prime Minister’s Office announced on 𝕏 that “After conducting forceful and determined negotiations led by Prime Minister Netanyahu, Hamas has withdrawn and will carry out another round of hostage releases this Thursday. As part of this round, civilian Arbel Yehud, soldier Agam Berger, and another hostage will be released. In addition, three additional hostages will be released this Saturday in accordance with the agreement.” 

A Hamas official later confirmed that Gaza residents were being allowed to return to the northern section of the Gaza Strip. 

“The passage of displaced Palestinians has begun along the Al-Rashid Road via the western part of the Netzarim checkpoint towards Gaza City and the northern part,” the official from the Gaza Interior Ministry told Agence France-Presse. 

Former National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, whose Jewish Power party withdrew from the coalition over the ceasefire agreement, and the decision to withdraw IDF troops from Gaza, called the opening of the Netzarim Corridor a “total surrender” to Hamas. 

“The opening of the Netzarim Corridor this morning and the entry of tens of thousands of Gazans into the northern Gaza Strip are images of Hamas' victory and another humiliating part of the reckless deal,” Ben Gvir posted to 𝕏.

“This is not what "complete victory" looks like – this is what complete surrender looks like. The heroic IDF soldiers did not fight and give their lives in the Strip to make these images possible. We must return to war – and destroy!” 

While many Israelis have expressed similar fears about the ceasefire deal, an Israeli official told The Jerusalem Post that the government is expecting problems from Hamas and is preparing to deal with them. 

“We know Hamas will continue the manipulation and ‘logistical problems’ he has done up until now,” the official said. “The closer we get to day 42 of the deal [the last day of phase 1,] the likelier it is that problems will increase.”