In Israel, the terrorist organization Hamas demanded this evening (Wednesday) that Arbel Yehud, 29, who was kidnapped on October 7 from Kibbutz Nir Oz, be released in the next phase of the hostage deal that will take place on Saturday.
This is in addition to three more abductees who will be released and whose identities will be announced on Friday - that's when Israel is supposed to officially receive the list of names, according to the agreement.
According to the ceasefire agreement, Hamas is scheduled to submit two lists on Friday afternoon: the first - a list of the four abductees who will be released on Saturday, the second - a list of the condition and status of the 30 abductees who are to be released, with Hamas obligated to state which of the abductees are alive and which are dead. Based on this information, the number of terrorists to be released will be determined.
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Hamas refuses to commit to Yehud's release or provide information about her condition to Israel, claiming that she is being held by terrorists from a Salafi organization affiliated with Islamic Jihad.
According to the agreement, at the current rate, the surviving civilians are supposed to be released first, and Israel is demanding full adherence to the agreement.
Because of this, Israel expects that Arbel, who is being held in Khan Yunis, will be released in the near future, when three observers are also expected to be released.
Yehud was kidnapped from Kibbutz Nir Oz, where she grew up with her partner of the past five years, Ariel Kunio. The dog they adopted just a week earlier was shot dead by Hamas terrorists.
Ariel's brother, David, is also being held in Gaza, while his wife Sharon and their 3-year-old twins, Emma and Yuli, were released as part of the first hostage deal, more than a year ago.
About a month ago, Arbel's father, Yechiel Yehud, revealed a recording of his daughter. In the five-second recording, Arbel says: "My dear mother, I love you and miss you.".
Arbel's brother, Dolev Ya'd, was murdered on October 7th and his body was found in Nir Oz eight months after the massacre.
After the release of Romi, Emily and Doron on Sunday this week, 94 hostages remained in Hamas captivity, including, in addition to Yehud, six women - Shiri Bibas and soldiers Karina Ariev, Daniela Gilboa, Liri Elbag, Agam Berger and Naama Levy.
It should be noted that it is not yet known at what beat of the first phase the songs of Biebs and her children Kfir and Ariel are expected to be released.
Meanwhile, Mossad head David Barnea and Shin Bet head Ronen Bar returned today from discussions in Egypt, partly due to concerns in Israel that Hamas will not hand over the list of live hostages as it promised.
The IDF said this evening that over the past 24 hours, IDF forces have been operating in the face of threats to forces in the Gaza Strip, despite the terms of the agreement that came into effect.
In the southern Gaza Strip - IDF forces operating in accordance with the terms of the ceasefire agreement identified a number of armed suspects who posed a threat to the force that was working to remove and eliminate the terrorist Akram Atef Farhan Zenun from the Islamic Jihad.
At the same time, evasive fire was fired at suspects who were moving towards the forces in several areas in the Gaza Strip.
The IDF stated: "The IDF is determined to fully comply with the terms of the agreement in order to return the kidnapped. The IDF is prepared for any scenario, and will continue to take all necessary actions to remove any immediate threat to soldiers.".
