After 48 hours of intense negotiations behind the scenes, an agreement was reached between Israel and Hamas on the next steps in the hostage deal on Sunday night.
On Thursday, three Israeli hostages will be released in a previously unscheduled hostage transfer. One of those who will be released is Arbel Yehoud, 29, who was supposed to be released last Saturday. The other two hostages that will be released are IDF observation soldier Agam Berger and an additional male hostage.
Israeli officials previously stated that they would not allow the return of Palestinians from southern Gaza to the north until an agreement for her release was arranged.
After Hamas and Israel reached an agreement on this – the roadblocks along the Netzarim area were removed, and Gazans began to flow from the south to the north.
During the night, Israel also received the full list of the conditions of the rest of the hostages to be released during the first phase of the deal.
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
An Israeli official told The Jerusalem Post the list and information is identical to the information Israel had about how many hostages are alive and how many are dead out of the 25 hostages that have yet to be released in the first phase.
Netanyahu and Katz respond
Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu said, "Israel will not tolerate any violation of the agreement. We will continue to work for the return of all the hostages”. Defence Minister Israel Katz said, "We will continue to firmly enforce the ceasefire in the north and south. Anyone who breaks the rules or threatens IDF forces will face the consequences”.
With Israel allowing the flow of people from the south to the north, some Israeli officials fear Israel is losing its biggest leverage in the ceasefire and its ability to prevent Hamas from future violations in the next release phases.
“We know Hamas will continue the manipulation and ‘logistical problems’ he has done up until now,” said one Israeli official to The Jerusalem Post. “The closer we get to day 42 of the deal [the final day of the phase,] the likelier it is that problems will increase.”