Discussions continue with Islamic Jihad over early release of hostage Israeli Arbel Yehud

Talks over the release of Israeli hostage Arbel Yehud, who per the ceasefire agreement was supposed to be released last weekend, are still ongoing, a senior Israeli official briefed media outlets Sunday evening.

“Contrary to reports, there is currently no agreement regarding the return of Arbel Yehud,” the source asserted, contradicting claims that an agreement had been reached made by the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ), which holds Yehud captive.

“Negotiations with the mediators are continuing,” the source added, “Israel will not allow Gazans to cross into the northern Gaza Strip until the matter is resolved.”

Army Radio reported that Israel believes the talks will conclude on Sunday evening, and demands that Yehud be released by Wednesday.

In addition, Israel is demanding to receive the full list of the condition of all hostages, which Hamas should have provided by Saturday, according to the agreement.

Before last weekend's hostage release, Israel demanded that Hamas fulfill the terms of the agreement and release all the civilian hostages slated for release during this phase of the hostage deal, before freeing IDF soldiers.

Nevertheless, Hamas released four female soldiers on Saturday, leaving the fate of the last two remaining civilians, Arbel Yehud and Shiri Silberman Bibas, in doubt.

Due to the breach of terms, Israel declared that IDF troops would not withdraw from the Netzarim Corridor until Yehud’s release was arranged. The corridor cuts off the northern part of the enclave, and prevents Gazans from returning north.

PIJ Deputy Secretary-General Muhammad al-Hindi had told Al Jazeera earlier that his group “informed the mediators that Arbel Yehud is alive. To prevent Israel excuses, we agree with the mediators that Arbel Yehud will be released before Saturday, in exchange for the release of 30 Palestinian prisoners.”

“The issue of the kidnapped Arbel Yehud is on the way to a solution,” al-Hindi continued. “Israel is trying to delay the ceasefire agreement and should have allowed the return of the Palestinians to the northern Gaza Strip.”

Another anonymous, “political” source later told Israeli media outlets, “A sign of life does not satisfy us. We demand an explicit commitment from the mediators to an arrangement for her release before Saturday. Until then - the IDF will not withdraw from the Netzarim Corridor.”

On Sunday, IDF soldiers several times fired warning shots at the tens of thousands of Palestinians who attempted to advance toward the north and approached IDF positions.

Previous media reports suggested that Yehud is being held hostage by a small Salafist splinter group connected to PIJ, and that PIJ’s local branch was resisting instructions from its leadership abroad to release Yehud.

IDF Spokesman Brig.-Gen. Daniel Hagari said Saturday that “Hamas failed to meet its obligations to release Israeli female civilian hostages first, as part of the agreement.”

“We are determined to return Arbel Yehud, an Israeli citizen kidnapped from Nir Oz, and also Shiri Bibas and her two children, Kfir and Ariel, whose welfare we are extremely concerned about,” Hagari added.

“We appreciate and thank the efforts of all the international mediators, the United States, Qatar and Egypt. And we expect them to make sure Hamas stands in accordance with the agreement.”

Hamas for its part claimed that Israel was violating the agreement by keeping the Netzarim Corridor closed. “Hamas and the mediators are monitoring the occupation's prevention of the return of the displaced to the north, which is using the excuse of Arbel Yehud - even though we announced that she was alive and provided all the necessary guarantees for her release,” Hamas stated.