Negotiations are ongoing between Israel, Hamas, and hostage deal mediators to secure the release of Arbel Yehoud from captivity in Gaza before the next round of hostage releases on Saturday, Israeli officials told The Jerusalem Post on Sunday.
Civilian hostage Yehoud, 29, was scheduled to be released last Saturday as part of the original terms of the hostage and ceasefire deal agreements, which stated that female civilians were to be released earlier than female soldiers.
On Saturday, Hamas released four of the five female soldiers held by the terror group, violating the terms of the hostage deal.
Both Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad, whose terrorists are allegedly holding the hostage, claimed "internal problems" brought about a delay to Yehoud's release. Now, Israel is working to secure her release before Saturday, an official told the Post.
Earlier on Sunday, Islamic Jihad officials told Reuters that an agreement has been reached and that Yehoud "will be released according to the agreement before Saturday."
Israeli officials denied this claim, stating that while negotiations were ongoing, no final agreement had been reached regarding Yehoud's release.
Netanyahu issued an ultimatum
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued an ultimatum to Hamas on Saturday, saying that Palestinians will not be allowed to return to their northern Gaza homes from the strip's south until Yehoud is released.
However, an Israeli statement on Sunday featured a softened tone different from the statements shared over the weekend: "Until an agreement is reached regarding her release, no one will be able to return north."
Yehoud was taken hostage along with her boyfriend, Ariel Cunio, from their home in Kibbutz Nir Oz on October 7, 2023.