Israel Announces Hamas Agreement to Release Three Hostages, Including Arbel Yehoud
The release of hostages marks a critical step in the fragile ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas.
Hamas has agreed to release three Israeli hostages, including two women and an 80-year-old man, as well as five Thai nationals who were abducted during the October 7, 2023, attacks. The announcement comes after significant tensions over a previous delay in the release of Arbel Yehoud, a key figure in the negotiations.
The Hostages Families Forum, a volunteer group formed by the families of those abducted, confirmed that Hamas will release a total of eight individuals, including Yehoud, 29, who was initially expected to be freed in the first phase of the ceasefire. The ceasefire, which has temporarily paused the deadly fighting in Gaza, is contingent on the gradual release of hostages.
In addition to Yehoud, the other Israelis set to be freed are Agam Berger, 20, and Gadi Moses, 80. Berger had been serving as an observer at a military base and was captured just days before the attack. Moses, a former founding member of a kibbutz and agriculture lecturer, was taken during the October assault, which also claimed the life of his partner.
The ceasefire agreement has been fraught with complications, particularly when Israel blocked Palestinian civilians from returning to their homes in northern Gaza, accusing Hamas of breaching the deal by not releasing Yehoud earlier. Tensions between the two sides escalated, but Qatar, a mediator in the negotiations, helped resolve the situation by assuring that Yehoud and two other hostages would be released by Friday.
Yehoud’s kidnapping was one of the high-profile cases, with her family struggling to confirm her fate until recently. Her brother, Dolev, was initially believed to have been taken with her but was later confirmed to have been killed in the attacks. Meanwhile, Yehoud's partner, Ariel Cunio, and his brother David remain in captivity, with their release not expected in the immediate phase of the deal.
Negotiations continue, with the second phase of the hostage release yet to be finalized. Reports indicate that a new round of talks will take place in Qatar next week. In total, 26 more Israeli hostages are expected to be freed as part of the first phase of the ceasefire. This includes Kfir Bibas, the youngest hostage still in captivity, who was just under nine months old at the time of his abduction.
Hamas has now disclosed the fate of several hostages, revealing that eight of the initial 26 Israeli hostages are confirmed dead, according to Israeli intelligence. This marks the first official confirmation of how many hostages are alive or dead.
As of now, more than 1,200 Israelis were killed and 251 taken hostage during the October 7 attacks. Over 47,000 Palestinians have died in the ongoing conflict, though this number is likely higher due to the difficulties in counting casualties amidst the destruction.
The hostage releases represent a small but significant step in the fragile ceasefire, with both sides continuing to negotiate terms for future releases.