Consensus to release Israeli captive Arbel Yehud: Source - Exclusive

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
26 Jan 2025 20:06

Two Palestinian sources tell AFP that Yehud's release had been expedited following mediation by Egypt and Qatar.

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Displaced Palestinians wait along the al-Rashid road in Nuseirat near the blocked Netzarim corridor to cross to the northern part of the Gaza Strip on January 26, 2025. (AFP)

Consultations are ongoing among the Palestinian Resistance factions to address the issue of the Israeli captive, Arbel Yehud, a senior official in the Palestinian Resistance told Al Mayadeen on Sunday.

According to the source, there is consensus among factions to hand over the captive in exchange for the release of 30 Palestinian prisoners and detainees.

Yehud, whose release "Israel" has demanded before permitting the return of displaced Palestinians, is set to be handed over by the Palestinian Resistance within days, AFP reported on Sunday, citing two Palestinian sources.

"Arbel Yehud is expected to be freed before the next [captive-prisoner] exchange" scheduled for February 1, stated a source from the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) movement.

Another Palestinian source with knowledge of the matter said Yehud’s release is anticipated by Friday.

"The release of Arbel Yehud will happen most likely by next Friday in exchange for 30 prisoners serving life sentences," the source indicated, speaking anonymously as he was not authorized to discuss the matter publicly.

"Israel" has accused Hamas of breaching the ceasefire agreement by not releasing Yehud during the second round of the prisoner exchange on Saturday.

As a civilian, Yehud "was supposed to be released" during the second swap under the terms of the truce, claimed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office in a statement.

Netanyahu's office described Hamas' actions as a violation of the ceasefire agreement, vowing that "Israel" "will not allow the passage of Gazans to the northern part of the Gaza Strip until the release of civilian Arbel Yehud... is arranged."

On Saturday, two Hamas sources informed AFP that Yehud was "alive and in good health," with one of them indicating that she would be "released as part of the third swap set for next Saturday."

However, on Sunday, the two Palestinian sources indicated that her release had been expedited following mediation by Egypt and Qatar.

The issue has been resolved, confirmed the source familiar with the situation.

Meanwhile, the Secretary of the Military Council of the al-Quds Brigades, Abu Ahmad, asserted that the mediators received guarantees that Yehud is alive and in good health, adding that what the PIJ's political leadership decides with the mediators regarding the release of the captive will be implemented and its date will be adhered to.

Abu Mujahed, the Media Officer of the Palestinian Resistance Committees, said that the issue of Yehud, who was taken captive by a joint group from the al-Nasser Salah al-Din Brigades and al-Quds Brigades "is on its way to resolution.

He indicated that the Israeli occupation "fabricated this issue to derail the agreement and sabotage the efforts of the mediators."

Hamas said it was monitoring, through mediators, the Israeli occupation's prevention of displaced persons from returning from southern to northern Gaza, which constitutes a violation and breach of the ceasefire agreement.

In a statement addressing Israeli violations of the agreement, Hamas pointed out that "Israel" is stalling the implementation of the agreement under the pretext of the Israeli captive Arbel Yehud, despite the fact that "the movement has informed mediators that she is alive and has provided all necessary guarantees for her release."

The Palestinian group held the Israeli occupation responsible for the delays in implementing the agreement, emphasizing, "We are working responsibly with mediators to reach a solution that ensures the return of the displaced."