Latest news with #Shalitdeal
Egypt Today
22-02-2025
- Politics
- Egypt Today
Hamas hands over 6 Israeli captives for releasing 602 Palestinian prisoners
One of released Israeli captives kisses the head of one of Al Qassam Brigades fighters during the handover of the 7th batch of in the phase 1 of the prisoner swap deal between the movement and Israel 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.
Egypt Today
21-02-2025
- Politics
- Egypt Today
Hamas names six Israeli captives to be released Saturday
File- The Red Cross team signed documents on receiving the bodies of the four Israeli captives from Hamas amid a large public presence CAIRO – 21 February 2025: Hamas Movement announced on Friday that names of the would-be released Israeli captives on Saturday in return for releasing Palestinian prisoners, as part of the Prisoner Swap deal between the Movement and Israel. Martyr Izz El-Din Al-Qassam Brigades spokesperson Abu Obeida announced the six names of the Israeli captives who will be handed over to a Red Cross team on Saturday. The names are as follow: 1- Elijah Maimon Yitzhak Cohen 2- Omar Shem Tov 3- Omer Finkert 4- Tal Shoham 5- Avera Mengistu 6- Hisham Al-Sayed The movement also issued another statement announcing that, following the Palestinian resistance's submission of the names of the Zionist captives, 50 prisoners sentenced to life imprisonment, 60 prisoners with long sentences, 47 prisoners from the Wafa al-Ahrar group who were re-arrested, and 445 prisoners from the Gaza Strip who were arrested after October 7 will be released tomorrow, Saturday, as part of the first phase of the exchange deal, according to the Palestinian Prisoners' Media Office. These captives are the last living prisoners set to be freed during the first phase of the ceasefire in exchange for hundreds of Palestinians held in Israeli prisons. Among the captives scheduled for release on Saturday are Hisham Al-Sayed and Avera Mengistu, according to head of Hamas Khalil Al-Hayya's comments on Wednesday. They were captured in 2014 and 2015 after crossing into Gaza. In return, a total of 800 Palestinian prisoners will be released as part of the deal on Saturday. The would-be released Palestinians inmates will include 445 prisoners from the Gaza Strip, who were arrested after October 7, 2023, 110 prisoners serving life sentences or long-term sentences, and 47 prisoners who were released in the 2011 Shalit deal and then re-arrested. Also, the Palestinian prisoners will include 200 women and children under the age of 19 from Gaza, who were arrested during the war. Additionally, senior leaders of the Qassam Brigades in the West Bank, most notably Abdel Nasser Issa, Othman Bilal, and Ammar Al-Zaben, will be among the would-be released prisoners. Yestersday, Hamas handed over the bodies of four Israeli captives, including Bibas family (two young boys and their mother), as part of the ceasefire agreement between the movement and Israel after tireless efforts of mediation from Egypt, Qatar, and the US.
Roya News
21-02-2025
- Politics
- Roya News
ِOver 1,100 Palestinian detainees released; largest exchange set for tomorrow
Around 1,135 Palestinian detainees have been released from "Israeli" prisons as part of the ceasefire agreement. Tomorrow, the largest exchange of detainees since the deal began will take place, with around 602 Palestinian detainees expected to be freed. The Palestinian Prisoners Media Office announced the details of the release, confirming that it will include a diverse group of detainees. The list includes 50 individuals serving life sentences, 60 detainees with long sentences, 47 detainees from the Shalit deal who were re-arrested after the 2011 exchange for captive Israeli Occupation soldier Gilad Shalit, and 445 detainees from the Gaza Strip detained after October 7th." Since the previous exchange last Saturday, which marked the conclusion of the sixth round, a total of 1,135 Palestinian detainees have been freed from "Israeli" occupation prisons.
Al Manar
20-02-2025
- Politics
- Al Manar
Captives Exchange Deal Underway: Hamas Hands Over Bodies of Israeli Captives
The Palestinian Resistance factions in Gaza have handed over the bodies of four Israeli captives to the International Red Cross, marking the first part of a long-awaited prisoner exchange deal. This exchange, which is expected to be completed next Saturday, will see the release of six living Israeli captives in return for the freedom of over 600 Palestinian prisoners, including those serving life sentences. From the handover of the bodies of four Israeli captives—Oded Lifshitz, Shiri Bibas, and her two children, Ariel and Kfir—by the Palestinian resistance to the Red Cross in the Gaza Strip. A banner depicting a monstrous, bloodied Netanyahu looming over the deceased captives… — The Cradle (@TheCradleMedia) February 20, 2025 The handover ceremony took place on Tuesday in Bani Suheila, east of Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip. Hundreds of Resistance fighters from the military wings of Palestinian factions participated in the solemn event, which was attended by the commander of the Eastern Battalion of the al-Qassam Brigades in Khan Younis. According to reports, the Israeli media had initially reported that 'Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu withdrew his participation in the ceremony to receive the bodies of the four Israeli captives.' However, the Israeli commanders of the eastern and northern battalions in the Khan Younis Brigade, whom the army had claimed to have killed, were present at the ceremony. Part of the handover process of the bodies of four Israeli captives killed by the occupation in Gaza to the International Red Cross. — Quds News Network (@QudsNen) February 20, 2025 Hamas spokesperson Abu Obeida stated that the bodies of the Bibas family and the remains of captive Oded Lifshitz would also be handed over, emphasizing that they were all alive before Israeli military aircraft deliberately bombed their locations in the Gaza Strip. The military spokesperson for the al-Quds, the military wing of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) movement, Abu Hamza, also announced the decision to release the remains of Lifshitz, asserting that Israeli forces intentionally killed him during the war on Gaza. In a statement, Hamas acknowledged that they had 'preserved the lives of the Israeli captives, provided them with what we could, and treated them humanely, but their army killed them along with their captors.' The movement stressed that 'the Zionist enemy army killed its prisoners by bombing their detention centers, and the Nazi occupation government bears full responsibility for repeatedly obstructing the exchange agreement.' The exchange process is expected to be completed next Saturday, with the release of six living Israeli captives and the freeing of over 600 Palestinian prisoners, including those serving life and long sentences, as well as those who were released in the 'Shalit deal' and later re-arrested.
