Hamas will hand over Arbel Yehoud, Agam Berger, and an additional male hostage on Thursday, the Prime Minister’s Office confirmed shortly after Qatar’s foreign ministry announced Sunday.
Additionally, the ministry said Hamas will hand over three more hostages on Saturday as per the ceasefire agreement.
The PMO also confirmed it has received the list Hamas provided mediators with all required information on the remaining hostages set to be released in the first phase of the agreement, which was initially meant to be provided last week.
In return, the Qatari ministry said Israel will allow displaced Palestinians to return to northern Gaza starting Monday morning.
Sources present in the negotiations told KAN that Islamic Jihad withdrew its demand to define Arbel Yehoud as a member of the security forces and that she would be considered a civilian.
לאחר ניהול משא-ומתן תקיף ונחוש בהובלת ראש הממשלה נתניהו, חמאס נסוג ויבצע פעימה נוספת של שחרור חטופים ביום חמישי הקרוב.במסגרת פעימה זו, ישוחררו האזרחית ארבל יהוד, החיילת אגם ברגר וחטוף נוסף.בנוסף, ביום שבת הקרוב ישוחררו שלושה חטופים נוספים על-פי ההסכם.
— ראש ממשלת ישראל (@IsraeliPM_heb) January 26, 2025
Arbel is expected to be released in the coming days
According to Arab media reports, Arbel is expected to be released tomorrow or the day after.
Previous discussions about the possible date for the return of Gaza residents to the northern Strip via the Netzarim depended on Arbel’s release, with negotiations revolving around the question of whether to allow the return upon her arrival in Israeli hands, or after the agreement of her release was reached.
This is a developing story.
Reuters contributed to this report.
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