Arbel Yehoud

Arbel Yehoud (or Yehud; Hebrew: ארבל יהוד; born 21 June 1995) is an Israeli woman who was abducted from Nir Oz during the October 7 attacks. 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. She was the last living female Israeli hostage to be freed. Under the terms of the ceasefire, Yehoud was supposed to be released by 25 January 2025. When she was not, Israel delayed allowing Palestinians to return to the north of Gaza through the Netzarim Corridor. 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. 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. After her release, Yehoud became an advocate for the return of the remaining hostages, including her partner, Ariel Cunio. Cunio was later released as part of the Gaza Peace Plan.