Live Update
From the Liveblog of
Saturday, January 25, 2025
Report: Israel discussing with mediators if civilian hostage Arbel Yehud can be freed in coming days

A poster showing the portraits of Arbel Yehoud (C), her brother Dolev Yehoud (R), and her partner Ariel Cunio (L) at their father's home in Rishon LeZion in central Israel on December 8, 2023 (MARCO LONGARI / AFP)
There are discussions underway between Israel and mediators to see if civilian female hostage Arbel Yehud can be released before next Saturday, the Kan public broadcaster reports.
Israel has said that Hamas was in violation of the agreement by releasing female soldiers before the living female captives, and has said that Palestinians will not be permitted to return to northern Gaza until arrangements have been made for the release of Yehud.
An Israeli official tells Kan that the Gazans would be permitted to return to the northern Strip if Yehud is freed in the coming days.
Palestinian Islamic Jihad, the terror group holding Yehud, has falsely claimed that she is a soldier.