Qatar says Arbel Yehoud, two other hostages will be released before Friday this week

Qatar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs says Hamas will release civilian hostage Arbel Yehoud before Friday this week, along with two other hostages, following intense negotiations over the past day with Palestinian Islamic Jihad, which is believed to be holding her.

It does not name the two other hostages it says will be released along with Yehoud.

It says that the release of the three hostages will not replace the scheduled release of three others on Saturday, as per the terms of the agreement. This means that in total, six hostages will be released in the coming days.

The foreign ministry’s spokesman Dr. Majed Al Ansari says Hamas will also provide information on Saturday about the condition of the hostages scheduled for release during the first phase of the deal — which it had been required to do by the end of the day yesterday but did not.

It says that in return, Israel will open the Netzarim Corridor tomorrow morning to allow displaced Gazans to begin returning home to the north of the Strip.

There is no immediate comment from Israel.