Arbel Yehud survived 482 days in Gaza captivity — Now she fights for release of remaining 50 hostages, including her partner

Former Israeli hostage Arbel Yehud was released in January during the second internationally-brokered ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas terrorist organization. Six months later, Yehud is fighting for the release of the remaining 50 Israeli hostages, including her partner, Ariel Cunio, who is still being held in Gaza.

“It doesn’t feel like six months to me,” she explained. “Everything feels like one long day since October 7, a day that never ends, just stretches and splits between where I am physically and where my heart remains trapped,” Yehud continued.

At the same time dealing, she continues to deal with her own post-captivity trauma after surviving alone for 482 days at the hands of Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) – a Hamas-allied terror group. It was initially unclear whether Yehud was alive. However, in late January, Israel received a sign of life from her captors. 

On Jan. 30, Yehud was released alongside hostage Gadi Mozes and five Thai citizens during a dangerous and uncontrolled handover where the hostages were forced to move surrounded by masses of hostile Gazan civilians. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the time condemned the dangerous handover. 

“I view with great severity the shocking scenes during the release of our hostages,” Netanyahu stated. “This is further proof of the unimaginable cruelty of the Hamas terrorist organization,” he added.

“I know it would weaken me, divert me from the fight,” Yehud explained. “I came back with a clear purpose the moment I crossed Kissufim. My priority since leaving is to stay driven, to fight and not let anything distract me. I’m not dealing with my own healing – I’m entirely focused on this."

While her focus is on saving the remaining hostages, Yehud admitted that she feels disconnected from her surroundings. 

“Just two or three weeks ago, someone told me it’s almost been six months, and I said, ‘No way, I’ve been here three months.’ We counted backward, and it hit me,” she recalled. “I’m learning to cope with a tough mental state while surrounded by support. But something in me changed in captivity – sometimes I want to break down alone,” she revealed. 

Like many other released hostages, Yehud explained that her recovery is connected to the release of all remaining hostages. 

“You can’t recover while they’re still there,” she argued. 

Yehud recalled the constant fear and anxiety among the hostages held in Gaza. 

“Fear lived in you there, every second, never easing even for a moment,” she explained. 

“The physical sensations of fear and absolute anxiety stay in your body. There, it was terrifying moments – cocked guns, psychological terror. When negotiations collapsed, conditions worsened. Treatment changed. It could mean abuse or psychological torment. When the army was close or talk of a rescue emerged, it became a direct threat to us,” she recalled. 

Despite her own traumatic experience, Yehud said the remaining hostages face even harder living conditions and fear. 

“If it felt horrific then, it’s a million times worse now. They had two months of ceasefire, then back to fighting, to bombings. Maybe they saw people leave or heard details. I can’t imagine what they’re going through,” she said. 

Despite regaining her freedom six months ago, Yehud recounted the trauma of being separated from her partner, Cunio.

She still fears for his life.

“From the moment the deal was set, all I could think about was that I was on the list and he wasn’t,” she said.

“I was leaving him behind, hoping he didn’t see me go, not wanting to make it harder for him. Crossing the border, I thought about what it meant for him. When I’m with his family, I feel closest to him."