Hostage Arbel Yehoud Expected To Be Freed This Weekend In Second Release

Israel is preparing for the next phase of the hostage exchange agreement, with Hamas expected to deliver the names of four female captives—one civilian and three military observers—on Friday. The swap is set for Shabbos afternoon, when the hostages will be handed over to the Red Cross before being transferred to Israeli forces. As part of this phase, Israel anticipates the release of civilian Arbel Yehoud.

Hamas is also expected to provide a comprehensive list by Shabbos, confirming the status of the 33 hostages, detailing who is alive and who has passed away. Israeli officials estimate that at least 25 hostages are still alive. After the release of three hostages earlier this week, and the expected release of four more on Saturday, the remaining number of hostages is believed to be 18.

Despite the ongoing ceasefire, the Israeli military has reported continued activity against threats in Gaza. Over the past 24 hours, IDF forces identified and neutralized armed suspects in southern Gaza, including Akram Ataf Farhan Zanon, a member of Palestinian Islamic Jihad. Additionally, masked individuals were spotted approaching Israeli positions, prompting the IDF to fire warning shots.

“The IDF remains committed to the cease-fire agreement to secure the release of hostages while ensuring its readiness to counter immediate threats,” the military said in a statement.

Israel is also making preparations for the second round of talks, which are officially slated to begin on February 4, though discussions have already started behind the scenes. Key intelligence figures, including Mossad Director David Barnea and Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar, recently held meetings in Cairo with Egyptian counterparts. The talks focused on ceasefire mechanisms, security in the Philadelphi Corridor, and the management of the Rafah crossing. Maj. Gen. Ghassan Alian from COGAT also visited Egypt to address implementation matters.

Steve Witkoff, U.S. President Donald Trump’s special envoy to the Middle East, is expected to visit Israel in the coming days to support the second-phase discussions of the Gaza ceasefire. Reports suggest that Witkoff played a pivotal role in persuading Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to accept the initial agreement. Witkoff expressed his intention to participate in monitoring efforts along the Gaza Strip and conveyed optimism about advancing regional normalization initiatives.

Israel and Egypt are currently negotiating the reopening of the Rafah crossing, which is planned to resume operations 14 days after the third phase of hostage releases. The plan involves 12 non-Hamas Palestinian workers, vetted by Shin Bet, to manage the crossing, under the supervision of the international EUBAM mission. The movement through the crossing will be restricted to individuals, with a pre-approved list allowing hundreds of Gazans to travel to Egypt for medical treatment.

Netanyahu’s office has underscored strict security protocols, stating, “No one will cross without prior approval and supervision by the IDF and Shin Bet.” Palestinian Authority involvement will be limited to passport stamping under international agreements. This arrangement will be reviewed after the first phase of the plan.

{Matzav.com}