Hamas hands over 6 Israeli captives for releasing 602 Palestinian prisoners

CAIRO – 21 February 2025: Hamas Movement released, on Saturday, the seventh batch of the Israeli captives, the last group who released in the phase 1 of the prisoner swap deal between the movement and Israel under the Egypt/Qatar/US brokerage.

Amid big crowds in two points in the Gaza Strip (the first in Rafah and the second in Al-Nusseirat camp), the Qassam Brigades- the military wing of Hamas- handed over six Israeli captives to a Red Cross team and then transported to Israel, in exchange for releasing 602 Palestinian prisoners from Israeli detentions.

In Rafah, the Qassam Brigades released two the zionist captives Tal Shoham and Avera Mengistu. Shoham was working in the Israeli Mossad (Intelligence) operations unit, was captured during the October 7, 2023, while the Ethiopian-Israeli Mengistu was taken by the Palestinian resistance 11 years ago in 2014.

In Nusseirat camp, the only five other captives have been handed down to the Red Cross team. Meanwhile, the six hostage – Hisham El Sayyed- is being handed over in a different place in the city of Rafah.

The Qassam Brigades announced in a statement that the exchange of six prisoners, on Saturday, by the Palestinian resistance factions reaffirms the movement’s commitment to the agreement, highlighting the contrast with the occupation's ongoing procrastination in fulfilling its terms.

“This handover takes place in a powerful national moment, symbolizing the unity of our people and factions, while the occupation is plagued by internal divisions and mutual accusations,” the statement read.

The large public turnout during the release of the six Israeli captives sends a renewed message to Israel and its supporters that the bond between the Palestinian people and their resistance is strong, deep-rooted, and unwavering, the statement continued.

A total of 602 Palestinian prisoners have been released from Israeli prisons, including 50 prisoners serving life sentences, 47 prisoners released in the 2011 Shalit deal who were re-arrested by Israel, 60 prisoners serving long sentences, and 445 Palestinians arrested during the war on Gaza.

Center for Defending Journalists announced that the today’s group of released Palestinians inlcude four journalists: Muhammad Imad al-Sultan, Khader Abdel Aal, Baha al-Ghoul, and Hamza Radwan.

Releasing the Oldest Palestinian Prisoner

One of the Palestinian released prisoners is Nael Barghouti (68 years old) from the village of Kobar in Ramallah, West Bank. After being released, Barghouti will be deported outside of Palestine.

Barghouti was arrested by the Israeli occupation in 1978 on charges of killing settler Mordechai Yakwel and bombing a café in Jerusalem. He was sentenced to life imprisonment plus 18 years. He was released in the 2011 Shalit deal, known as “Wafa al-Ahrar,” but was re-arrested by the occupation in 2014.

Barghouti has served 45 years in occupation prisons, marking the longest detention period in the history of the Palestinian prisoner movement, according to prisoner institutions.

The Prisoners' Media Office reported that occupation intelligence has prevented Nael Barghouti's wife from traveling to Egypt to meet her deported husband.

Ongoing invasion of Jenin

Meanwhile, the Israeli invasion of Jenin city and its camp has now entered its 33rd consecutive day, with no signs of withdrawal of the Israeli forces. Military reinforcements continue to be deployed toward the camp.

The Israeli Ocupation Forces (IOF) raided the homes of several prisoners expected to be released as part of the seventh batch of the first phase of the Flood of the Free (Toufah Al-Ahrar) exchange deal, warning their families against holding any celebrations in the West Bank.