Islamic Jihad demands releasing 30 Palestinians in exchange for Israeli female hostage

The Palestinian Islamic Jihad Movement has demanded that the Israeli government release 30 Palestinians in exchange for Israeli female hostage Arbel Yehud.

Mohammed al-Hindi, deputy secretary-general of the movement, told Xinhua that the movement has informed international mediators that Yehud is still alive.

The movement has agreed to conditions that would be reached through mediators, including the release of Yehud before next Saturday in exchange for the release of 30 Palestinian prisoners, said al-Hindi.

Israel is trying to obstruct the ceasefire deal, he said, noting that Israel was supposed to allow the return of Palestinians to the northern Gaza Strip, which has not happened so far, according to Xinhua news agency.

Al-Hindi mentioned that the issue is on its way to being resolved, and the movement is waiting for the mediators to provide a practical response regarding allowing the return of displaced people to northern Gaza.

On Saturday, Israel’s Prime Minister’s Office issued a statement saying that Israel will not allow Palestinian residents to return to their homes in the northern Gaza Strip for the time being. The statement noted that the ban will remain until the release of Arbel Yehud, who was scheduled to be freed on Saturday but was not among the four Israelis released by Hamas.

Earlier, Gaza witnessed the second hostage swap, as Hamas freed four female Israeli soldiers in exchange for 200 Palestinian prisoners, a part of a six-week ceasefire that began on January 19.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and the Israel Security Agency confirmed on Saturday that four female Israeli soldiers held in Gaza had returned to Israel after being handed over to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), a neutral intermediary that facilitated the smooth and secure implementation of the exchange.

A video released by the IDF showed the hostages embracing their parents in tears of joy.