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Arbel Yehoud

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Arbel Yehoud
Yehoud at the White House in 2025
Born (1995-06-21) 21 June 1995 (age 31)
Israel
Known forHostage in Gaza (2023–2025)
PartnerAriel Cunio

Arbel Yehoud (or Yehud; Hebrew: ארבל יהוד;[1] born 21 June 1995) is an Israeli woman who was abducted from Nir Oz during the October 7 attacks.[2] Yehoud was held in captivity for 482 days by Palestinian Islamic Jihad until she was released as part of the January 2025 Gaza war ceasefire.[2] She was the last living female Israeli hostage to be freed.[2][3]

Under the terms of the ceasefire, Yehoud was supposed to be released by 25 January 2025.[4] When she was not, Israel delayed allowing Palestinians to return to the north of Gaza through the Netzarim Corridor.[5] This event was described as the first major "crisis" of the ceasefire and was resolved after international mediators guaranteed that Yehoud would be freed on 30 January 2025.[5][6] Her subsequent release was described as "chaotic" by both CNN and AP News, as Yehoud was led by Palestinian militants through crowds of thousands in Khan Younis before being handed over to the Red Cross.[2][7]

After her release, Yehoud became an advocate for the return of the remaining hostages, including her partner, Ariel Cunio.[8] Cunio was later released as part of the Gaza Peace Plan.[9]

Early life

Arbel Yehoud was born on 21 June 1995, to Yael Yehoud and Yechiel Yehoud.[10][11] She had two older brothers, Dolev and Neta, and was a third-generation resident of Kibbutz Nir Oz, with her grandparents being among its founders.[11][4][12] Yehoud was a professional dancer for many years.[13] She originally worked in her kibbutz's education system before she began working as a guide at GrooveTech.[14][4] Yehoud began dating Ariel Cunio five years before their abduction, and the pair had returned from a vacation to South America shortly before 7 October 2023.[14] The couple had gotten engaged shortly before 7 October 2023.[15]

Captivity

Abduction

On 7 October 2023, Yehoud was abducted from her home in Kibbutz Nir Oz alongside her fiancé, Ariel Cunio.[16] That morning, Yehoud had texted her mother that she was in the safe room with Cunio. Her last contact with her family was around 9 a.m., when she texted a cousin that someone had shot at their window.[15] The couple's recently adopted dog, Murph, was shot dead, and the couple was beaten by their captors.[12][17] Yehoud and Cunio were separated three hours after entering Gaza.[17]

Separate from their abduction, Cunio's brother, David Cunio, sister-in-law, Sharon Cunio, and two nieces, Emma and Yuli Cunio, were also taken hostage by Hamas.[18] Yehoud's brother, Dolev Yehoud, was also initially believed to have been taken hostage, until his remains were identified in June 2024.[19]

In May 2025, ASharq Al-Aswat reported that a commander involved in abducting Yehoud was killed in an IDF operation in Khan Younis.[20]

Conditions

Yehoud was held in captivity by Palestinian Islamic Jihad.[16] She was held alone and barefoot for the entirety of her captivity.[21][11] Throughout her captivity, she was held in several different homes and was reported to have been held in difficult conditions, fed little food, and left suffering from malnutrition.[11] In the first months of Yehoud's captivity, she and Cunio were able to communicate through intermediaries, but this correspondence was terminated after several months.[17][22] Yehoud learned Arabic early on in her captivity and did not believe her captors when they told her about the internal disagreements in Israel over a hostage deal.[23] Yehoud expected to be released during the 2023 Gaza war ceasefire but felt "abandoned" after she remained in captivity.[16][24] Yehoud was among the hostages who were fast-tracked for German citizenship in order to help assist in their release.[25] She officially received her German passport after her release from captivity.[26]

During the 2024 Rafah hostage raid, Yehoud, who was located in an area close to the raid, was held at gunpoint by her captors.[16] Yehoud reported that when relatives of her captors were wounded by the Israeli military, she was severely beaten and kept isolated for several days.[27][28] While in captivity, she learned that her brother, Dolev, had been killed on 7 October.[16]

Towards the end of Yehoud's captivity, she became aware of the magnitude of the hostage crisis after her captors permitted her to watch Al Jazeera.[29] In a February 2026 interview, Yehoud said she was sexually abused and had attempted suicide on three occasions throughout her captivity.[17][22]

Release

Under the terms of the January 2025 Gaza war ceasefire, Yehoud was expected to be released on either 19 or 25 January.[4] After the release of Emily Damari, Romi Gonen, and Doron Steinbrecher on 19 January, Israel told Hamas of its expectation for Yehoud to be among the four hostages released on 25 January.[30] However, after Yehoud was not among the four hostages (Naama Levy, Liri Albag, Daniella Gilboa, and Karina Ariev) released on 25 January, Israel delayed opening the Netzarim Corridor, which would have enabled hundreds of thousands of Palestinians to return to northern Gaza.[5][31] This event was considered by multiple sources to be the first significant 'crisis' or 'complication' of the ceasefire.[5][6] After mediation from the United States, Qatar, and Egypt, a deal was reached for Yehoud, Agam Berger, and a third hostage to be released on 30 January, and Israel allowed Palestinians in Gaza to return north.[32][33][7]

On 27 January, the Al-Quds Brigades released a video of Yehoud in captivity.[34] In the video, which was determined by the New York Times to have been filmed on 25 January, Yehoud told her family, "I hope to return to you soon, like the girls who have been released."[35] This video was the first footage of Yehoud since her abduction.[35] A second video of Yehoud was released on 30 January, showing her reuniting with fellow Nir Oz resident Gadi Moses, who was also scheduled to be released later that day.[36] Moses was the first Israeli that Yehoud had encountered since being separated from Cunio.[36]

On 30 January 2025, Yehoud was released in Khan Younis alongside hostages Gadi Moses, Surasak Lamnau, Sathian Suwannakham, Pongsak Tanna, Bannawat Saethao, and Watchara Sriaoun.[2][37] She had been held in captivity for 482 days.[27] Yehoud was the last living female hostage released from Gaza as the other remaining living female hostage, Agam Berger, had been released earlier in the day.[2][3] Their release, which CNN and AP News described as "chaotic", took place at the ruins of the house of former Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, and the hostages were led through a crowd of thousands before being transferred to the Red Cross.[2][7] As a result, Israel delayed the release of 110 Palestinian detainees until guarantees were made that such a release ceremony would not be held again.[2][38]

Post-release activities

Yehoud attending a vigil in Washington, D.C. on the 2nd anniversary of 7 October.

Upon her release, Yehoud was taken to Sheba Hospital in Ramat Gan.[39] Less than a week after her release, she was discharged from the hospital and moved into Nir Oz's temporary community in Kiryat Gat.[1][16] Yehoud and Cunio's former home in Nir Oz was demolished in January 2026.[3]

Yehoud made multiple public appearances following her release. In May 2025, she addressed the Knesset, encouraging members of the government to end the war.[27] She also spoke at multiple Israeli hostage deal protests at Hostages Square, advocating for a direct deal to release the hostages rather than relying on military pressure.[40][41][42] On the second anniversary of the 7 October attacks, Yehoud gave a speech at the Kennedy Center, calling for world leaders to bring home the remaining hostages.[43] For her advocacy, Yehoud was named as one of the 18 recipients of Chochmat Nashim's Women of Iron Award in 2025.[44]

Yehoud has criticized the Israeli government since her release.[29] She declined to attend Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's visit to Kibbutz Nir Oz[29] and was among the 22 hostages who signed a letter pushing for a state commission of inquiry into the 7 October attacks.[45] Along with other former hostages, she signed a letter calling for Gal Hirsch, the coordinator for hostage release efforts, to resign after Hirsch asserted that protests in favor of a hostage deal had aided Hamas.[46][47]

Ariel Cunio was released on 13 October 2025, as part of the Gaza peace plan.[9] Cunio and Yehoud, along with Cunio's brother David Cunio, sister-in-law, Sharon Cunio, and nieces Emma and Yuli Cunio, were among the 26 former hostages who met with President Donald Trump at the White House in November 2025.[48] Yehoud and Cunio raised ₪4,000,000 (about $1.3 million) through a crowdfunding campaign within 24 hours of their Channel 12 interview airing, while a previous fundraising campaign for Yehoud had raised ₪700,000 towards her rehabilitation.[49]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 שאולוב, רוני גרין; שאולוב, רוני גרין (5 February 2025). "ארבל יהוד שוחררה מבית החולים, משפחתה: "ניאבק להשבת כל החטופים"". Ynet (in Hebrew). Archived from the original on 22 June 2025. Retrieved 6 March 2026.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Krever, Mick (30 January 2025). "Chaotic scenes at Gaza hostage release bring condemnation from Israeli leaders". CNN. Archived from the original on 29 July 2025. Retrieved 24 November 2025.
  3. 1 2 3 Steinberg, Jessica (15 February 2026). "Former hostage couple dreams of space (travel) and time to recover and rebuild their home". The Times of Israel. ISSN 0040-7909. Archived from the original on 18 February 2026. Retrieved 18 February 2026.
  4. 1 2 3 4 "Who Is Arbel Yehud, the Israeli Hostage at the Center of the Dispute?". 26 January 2025. Archived from the original on 26 November 2025. Retrieved 24 November 2025.
  5. 1 2 3 4 "Here's what happens next during the ceasefire in Gaza". AP News. 25 January 2025. Archived from the original on 5 October 2025. Retrieved 24 November 2025.
  6. 1 2 "Qatar says deal is in place to release Israeli hostage and allow Palestinians into northern Gaza". NBC News. 27 January 2025. Archived from the original on 26 June 2025. Retrieved 10 December 2025.
  7. 1 2 3 Shurafa, Wafaa; Jahjouh, Mohammad; Debre, Isabel (30 January 2025). "Israelis and Palestinians rejoice after more hostages and prisoners are freed". AP News. Archived from the original on 2 December 2025. Retrieved 6 March 2026.
  8. ↑ Reiss, Johnatan; Boxerman, Aaron (17 August 2025). "Israelis Join Nationwide Rallies to Call for Release of Hostages". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on 1 November 2025. Retrieved 6 March 2026.
  9. 1 2 Greyman-Kennard, Danielle; Holcman, Tobias (12 October 2025). "Argentinian-Israeli Gaza hostage Ariel Cunio to return home". The Jerusalem Post. ISSN 0792-822X. Retrieved 10 December 2025.
  10. ↑ Botbol, Amelie (23 June 2024). "Family, supporters mark hostage Naama Levy's 20th birthday". JNS.org. Archived from the original on 2 January 2026. Retrieved 11 December 2025.
  11. 1 2 3 4 "'Being a Woman Alone Is Different': Arbel Yehoud Recounts Gaza Captivity, Fear as Fighting Raged Nearby". Haaretz. 29 April 2025. Archived from the original on 19 May 2026. Retrieved 10 December 2025.
  12. 1 2 "Agam Berger, Arbel Yehud, and Gadi Moses to be released". 29 January 2025. Archived from the original on 30 September 2025. Retrieved 10 December 2025.
  13. ↑ "German-Israeli hostage Arbel Yehoud released by Hamas in ceasefire deal". The Jerusalem Post. 18 January 2025. ISSN 0792-822X. Archived from the original on 13 March 2026. Retrieved 10 December 2025.
  14. 1 2 "Arbel and Judith, women hostages in Gaza limbo". France 24. 16 December 2023. Archived from the original on 19 December 2023. Retrieved 10 December 2025.
  15. 1 2 "These are the three Israeli hostages released from Gaza captivity on Thursday". Haaretz. Archived from the original on 24 May 2026. Retrieved 11 June 2026.
  16. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Staff, ToI (29 April 2025). "Former hostage Arbel Yehoud says captors threatened to kill her if IDF approached". The Times of Israel. ISSN 0040-7909. Archived from the original on 24 July 2025. Retrieved 24 November 2025.
  17. 1 2 3 4 ynet (14 February 2026). "Freed hostage Arbel Yehoud breaks silence: 'I tried to end it three times'". Ynetglobal. Retrieved 14 February 2026.
  18. ↑ Staff, ToI (27 November 2023). "Sharon Aloni Cunio, twins Yuli and Emma, 3, freed; father David still in Gaza". The Times of Israel. ISSN 0040-7909. Archived from the original on 12 August 2025. Retrieved 10 December 2025.
  19. ↑ Staff, ToI (22 January 2024). "Palestinian Islamic Jihad captive Arbel Yehoud released after 482 days in Gaza". The Times of Israel. ISSN 0040-7909. Retrieved 24 November 2025.
  20. ↑ Lutski, Noa (19 May 2025). "Report: Gaza commander killed in Israeli raid was behind October 7 kidnapping". Ynetglobal. Retrieved 11 December 2025.
  21. ↑ Gordon, Lihi (30 July 2025). "'I was hoping he didn't see me go': Former hostage Arbel Yehoud speaks of captivity and fear for those still in Gaza". Ynetglobal. Retrieved 24 November 2025.
  22. 1 2 Staff, ToI (14 February 2026). "Ex-hostage reveals she tried to kill herself in Gaza, says view of protests saved her". The Times of Israel. ISSN 0040-7909. Archived from the original on 14 February 2026. Retrieved 15 February 2026.
  23. ↑ Staff, ToI (10 February 2025). "Released hostage Arbel Yehoud condemns politicization of captives' plight". The Times of Israel. ISSN 0040-7909. Archived from the original on 7 October 2025. Retrieved 10 December 2025.
  24. ↑ Peleg, Bar (30 July 2025). "'I Don't Understand What We're Fighting For': Freed Hostage Arbel Yehoud Slams Israel's Prolonged War in Gaza". Haaretz. Archived from the original on 17 May 2026. Retrieved 11 March 2026.
  25. ↑ Karmel, Ariela (6 August 2025). "Since Oct. 7, Berlin has quietly fast-tracked citizenship for hostages and their families". The Times of Israel. ISSN 0040-7909. Archived from the original on 13 April 2026. Retrieved 19 March 2026.
  26. ↑ "Arbel Yehoud receives German citizenship after 482 as Hamas hostage". The Jerusalem Post. 28 March 2025. ISSN 0792-822X. Archived from the original on 14 March 2026. Retrieved 10 December 2025.
  27. 1 2 3 Staff, ToI (19 May 2025). "'Blood will be on your hands': Former hostage urges MKs to end war, return captives". The Times of Israel. ISSN 0040-7909. Retrieved 24 November 2025.
  28. ↑ Hilaie, Sivan; Lukash, Alexandra (19 May 2025). "Freed hostage Arbel Yehoud: 'I was beaten, held in Holocaust-like conditions'". Ynetglobal. Retrieved 20 June 2026.
  29. 1 2 3 "Arbel Yehoud speaks about her time in captivity in N12 interview". The Jerusalem Post. 20 July 2025. ISSN 0792-822X. Archived from the original on 26 July 2025. Retrieved 10 December 2025.
  30. ↑ Fabian, Emanuel; Staff, ToI (23 January 2025). "Israel said to tell Hamas it expects Arbel Yehoud to be among next freed hostages". The Times of Israel. ISSN 0040-7909. Retrieved 10 December 2025.
  31. ↑ Michaelson, Ruth (25 January 2025). "Jubilant scenes in Gaza City as four Israeli soldiers are released". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 20 June 2026.
  32. ↑ "Qatar says deal reached to release an Israeli hostage and allow Palestinians into northern Gaza". POLITICO. Associated Press. 26 January 2025. Archived from the original on 30 July 2025. Retrieved 10 December 2025.
  33. ↑ Cooney, Christy; Lowe, Yohannes; Quinn, Ben; Livingstone, Helen; Lowe, Christy Cooney (now); Yohannes; Livingstone (earlier), Helen (27 January 2025). "Middle East: Tens of thousands of Palestinians begin journey home to devastated northern Gaza – as it happened". the Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 11 December 2025.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  34. ↑ Fabian, Emanuel; Agencies; Staff, ToI (27 January 2025). "Islamic Jihad releases propaganda video with sign of life from hostage Arbel Yehoud". The Times of Israel. ISSN 0040-7909. Archived from the original on 17 February 2025. Retrieved 10 December 2025.
  35. 1 2 Reiss, Johnatan (27 January 2025). "Palestinian Militant Group Releases Video of Civilian Hostage in Gaza". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on 14 September 2025. Retrieved 11 June 2026.
  36. 1 2 "Islamic Jihad publishes video of hostages reuniting before release | The Jerusalem Post". The Jerusalem Post | JPost.com. 30 January 2025. Archived from the original on 16 March 2026. Retrieved 11 June 2026.
  37. ↑ "Thai hostages: Five held in Gaza released by Hamas". www.bbc.com. 30 January 2025. Retrieved 22 June 2026.
  38. ↑ Fabian, Emanuel; Spiro, Amy; Kirsh, Elana (30 January 2025). "Arbel Yehoud, Gadi Mozes, 5 Thais, freed amid mayhem in Khan Younis; Agam Berger released". The Times of Israel. ISSN 0040-7909. Retrieved 22 June 2026.
  39. ↑ Rasgon, Adam; Boxerman, Aaron; Beech, Hannah; Suhartono, Muktita; Reiss, Johnatan; Joseph, Yonette (30 January 2025). "Israel Frees Palestinian Prisoners After Chaotic Hostage Handover". New York Times. Retrieved 10 December 2025.
  40. ↑ Reiss, Johnatan; Aviv, Aaron BoxermanJohnatan Reiss reported from Tel; Jerusalem, Aaron Boxerman from (17 August 2025). "Israelis Join Nationwide Rallies to Call for Release of Hostages". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on 1 November 2025. Retrieved 19 February 2026.
  41. ↑ Tondo, Lorenzo (28 May 2025). "Families of hostages stage protests on 600th day of Israel-Gaza war". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 19 March 2026.
  42. ↑ Karmel, Ariela; Summers, Charlie; Freiberg, Nava (17 August 2025). "'We want them back': Israelis strike and protest in call for hostage deal, end of war". The Times of Israel. ISSN 0040-7909. Retrieved 19 March 2026.
  43. ↑ Gordon, Lihi (7 October 2025). "'Every day feels like eternity': Freed hostage pleads in Washington for loved ones still held in Gaza". Ynetglobal. Archived from the original on 17 October 2025. Retrieved 24 November 2025.
  44. ↑ Altshul, Sharon (26 December 2025). "Women of Iron: Leadership forged in aftermath of Oct. 7". JNS.org. Retrieved 4 January 2026.
  45. ↑ "800 Days After October 7 22 Freed Hostages and Families Urge Netanyahu to Appoint State Commission of Inquiry". Haaretz. 14 December 2025. Archived from the original on 20 May 2026. Retrieved 17 February 2026.
  46. ↑ Steinberg, Jessica (2 February 2026). "Full text of letter from ex-hostages and relatives demanding Gal Hirsch resign". The Times of Israel. ISSN 0040-7909. Archived from the original on 22 February 2026. Retrieved 18 February 2026.
  47. ↑ "Ex-hostages demand Gal Hirsch quit after 'despicable comments' that protests helped Hamas". The Times of Israel. 1 February 2026. ISSN 0040-7909. Retrieved 31 August 2026.
  48. ↑ Eichner, Itamar; Gordon, Lihi (20 November 2025). "'Not hostages anymore—you are heroes': Trump hosts 26 freed hostages at White House". Ynetglobal. Retrieved 24 November 2025.
  49. ↑ Morell, Naama (15 February 2026). "$1.3 Million in 24 Hours: Released Hostages Meet Crowdfunding Goal With Thousands Contributing". Haaretz. Archived from the original on 1 April 2026. Retrieved 17 February 2026.
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