Palestinian Islamic Jihad released a video on Monday of Israeli civilian Arbel Yehud, 29, who has been held captive in Gaza for 480 days and is slated to be released on Thursday.
Yehud’s family did not immediately approve the publication by the media of the full video clip, according to a report by Israel’s Ynet news outlet on Monday night.
Under the terms of the ceasefire agreement between Jerusalem and Hamas, the Palestinian terrorist group was to have freed female civilian hostages, including Yehud, before female Israeli soldiers.
Instead, the terrorist group released four female soldiers on Saturday: Karina Ariev, 20; Daniella Gilboa, 20; Naama Levy, 20; and Liri Albag, 19.
Following Israeli complaints about the violation of the deal’s terms, Hamas agreed to release three additional hostages on Thursday, the Prime Minister’s Office in Jerusalem announced on Sunday night.
In addition to Yehud, Israel Defense Forces soldier Agam Berger and an unidentified male captive will be freed. Three more abductees are to be released on Saturday, in accordance with the terms of the ceasefire.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stressed on Sunday that Jerusalem “will not tolerate any violation of the agreement. We will continue to act for the return of all of our hostages, the living and the deceased.”
Yehud and her partner, Ariel Cunio, were taken from their home in Nir Oz on Oct. 7, 2023. Cunio, 27, is presumed to be alive but is not listed among those to be released in the first phase of the deal. The only men slated to be freed in this phase are those ill, wounded or over the age of 50.
Yehud’s release was reportedly put off on Saturday due to the fact that Palestinian Islamic Jihad has falsely classified her as a soldier.
