Arbel Yehud, Israeli Hostage, Is Seen in New Video Released by Islamic Jihad
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The civilian, Arbel Yehud, should have been among the first two groups of hostages released on Jan. 19 and Jan. 25 under the cease-fire deal, according to the Israeli authorities.
The Palestinian Islamic Jihad on Monday released a video of the Israeli hostage Arbel Yehud, whose delayed release had been at the center of one of the most significant disputes between Israel and Hamas since a cease-fire took effect a week ago.
Ms. Yehud is believed to be one of the last remaining female civilians held in Gaza since about 250 people were abducted during the Hamas-led attacks on Israel of Oct. 7, 2023.
In the video footage, which an analysis by The New York Times dates to Jan. 25, she says, “My family, I’m OK. I miss you endlessly and I hope to return to you soon, like the girls who had been released.”
Rights groups and international law experts have noted that, by definition, such hostage videos are made under duress, and that the statements in them are usually coerced.
Or Moshe, a spokeswoman for the Hostage Families Forum, an umbrella organization representing the families of captives in Gaza, confirmed the footage was of Ms. Yehud, and said it was the first video of the hostage since she was taken from Nir Oz, a kibbutz in Israel, in 2023.
Ms. Yehud was to be among the first two groups of hostages released on Jan. 19 and Jan. 25 during the first phase of the provisional cease-fire agreement, according to the Israeli authorities. Israel had demanded that its female civilians be released before captive female soldiers.