Israel demands hostage Arbel Yehud to be freed in the upcoming release from Gaza

The recent release of three female hostages from the Gaza Strip Sunday has sparked a flurry of questions among Israeli officials as well as the public about who will be next in the lineup of four women scheduled for release this coming Saturday.

Israel has demanded that Hamas uphold the terms of the agreement stipulating that the civilians be released first, and therefore wants Arbel Yehud (29), to be among those freed this weekend, according to multiple Hebrew media reports on Wednesday.

Yehud is believed to be held by a small Salafi splinter group connected to the larger Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) group, raising concerns in Israel that Hamas will delay her release while claiming logistical difficulties.

The other remaining females that are on the list of hostages set to be released in the ceasefire's first phase are Shiri Silberman Bibas, 33; Liri Albag, 19; Karina Ariev, 20; Agam Berger, 21; Danielle Gilboa, 20 and Naama Levy, 20.

Yehud and Silberman Bibas are both civilians, while Albag, Ariev, Berger, Gilboa, and Levy are IDF soldiers. Bibas’s two young sons Ariel and Kfir, now ages 5 and 2, are also held and are on the list, as is her husband, Yarden Bibas.

It is not known why Israel reportedly insists on Yehud, and not Silberman Bibas, to be released this weekend.

At a press briefing on Thursday, Israeli Spokesman David Mencer declined to answer why Israel demanded Yehud to be freed.

Under the hostage deal and ceasefire agreement, Hamas is expected to provide the names of the four female hostages to be returned to Israel by Friday, a day before their scheduled release.

Yehud was taken hostage along with her boyfriend, Ariel Cunio, from their home in Kibbutz Nir Oz on Oct. 7, 2023. Her brother, Dolev Yehud, was killed on Oct. 7, while defending the kibbutz.

She is one of seven female hostages on the original list of 33 to be released during the first phase of the hostage ceasefire deal.

The hostage release deal includes the stipulation that Israel must release Palestinian prisoners in exchange for the hostages, some of whom have blood on their hands and have killed or been responsible for the murders of dozens of Israelis.

For each female soldier freed from captivity, Israel will release 50 Palestinian prisoners, 30 of them convicted terrorists who are serving life sentences. On Monday, Israel released 30 prisoners for each of the three civilian female hostages Hamas set free the day before.

While the army is transitioning its deployment across Gaza, “the IDF once again calls on Palestinian civilians to obey IDF instructions and not approach the forces deployed in the area,” military officials stated.

In southern Gaza, IDF troops identified several gunmen “who posed a threat.” At least one of the gunmen, “identified by the IDF as Palestinian Islamic Jihad operative Akram Zanoun,” was killed.

Additionally, the IDF said troops fired warning shots at masked suspects approaching them.

“The IDF is determined to fully implement the terms of the agreement to return the hostages. The IDF is prepared for any scenario, and will continue to take all necessary actions to remove any immediate threat to IDF soldiers,” the military said.