IDF Blocks Gazans from Moving North Until Hamas Frees Arbel Yehud

Thousands of Gazans who planned to return to northern Gaza on Sunday were stopped by Israeli forces at the Netzarim Corridor that bisects the enclave because their rulers, the Hamas terrorist organization, violated the terms of a hostage release agreement this weekend.

According to the agreement, living civilian hostages — females first — were to be freed before Israeli soldiers. Among those civilians was 29-year-old Arbel Yehud, but she remains in Gaza captivity, held by operatives from the Palestinian Islamic Jihad terrorist organization.

Yehud, a civilian, was kidnapped from her home in Kibbutz Nir Oz by Gaza terrorists during their invasion and massacre on October 7, 2023.

Islamic Jihad, however, has classified her as a “soldier.” The difference is significant: Israel has agreed to free 30 terrorists from prison for one Israeli civilian, but will release 50 terrorists from prison in exchange for one Israeli soldier.

On Saturday (Jan. 25), four young female soldiers were freed, ages 19 and 20, and no information was forthcoming about Yehud — or anyone else, another violation of the deal which stipulated that Israel receive a list detailing the status of each hostage to be freed during the six-week agreement.

In response, Israel has declined to open the crossing at the Netzarim Corridor, and blocked Gazans from returning to the north. Hundreds were forced to sleep out in the open as a result, having already left their encampments in southern Gaza.

Israel refuses to open the crossing until Arbel Yehud is freed.

Needless to say, Hamas is facing a groundswell of discontent among their most fervent supporters who came north — as directed by Hamas — and then had nowhere to go.

A flurry of negotiations ensued, including messages to and from the brokers of the agreement — Qatar, Egypt and the United States.

No One Really Knows When Arbel Yehud Will Be Freed
Hamas spokesperson Hazem Qassem claimed in an interview with Al Araby TV on Sunday that not allowing Gazans to move north is a “blatant violation” of the ceasefire deal that took effect last week.

Qassem urged the mediators of the deal to pressure Israel into allowing the Gazans to return to the north.

A Hamas source meanwhile told the Qatar-based Al Jazeera TV network that mediators were told Yehud will be freed next Saturday, according to the Iranian IRNA news agency.

The Saudi Al-Hadath news channel reported that an agreement was reached for Yehud’s release, quoting to an Egyptian report that said the captive would be freed on Friday. In return, Israel will open the Netzarim Corridor and release 30 terrorist prisoners currently serving life sentences.

Islamic Jihad terrorist spokesperson Mohammed Al-Hajj Musa likewise announced in a statement Sunday afternoon that “a deal was reached” about Yehud — but the alleged timing of the release was quite different.

“She will be released before next Saturday, ensuring the return of displaced Gazans to the northern Gaza Strip,” he said, but did not specify when Yehud would be freed.

“The resistance has proven that she is alive through a video,” Musa said in his statement. “The [Israeli army] has prevented the return of the displaced because she was not released yesterday, Saturday January 25th.”