Gaza: The seventh batch of Israeli prisoners is handed over, and Hamas announces its readiness for a full exchange at once

Today, Saturday, the Al-Qassam Brigades handed over 5 Israeli prisoners as part of the seventh batch of exchange operations within the first phase of the ceasefire agreement that has been in effect since January 19. At the same time, the Hamas movement announced its readiness for a full exchange operation for one time.

By noon today, the battalions handed over 3 Israeli soldiers who were prisoners to the Red Cross in the Nuseirat camp in the middle of the Strip, about two hours after handing over two recruits in the city of Rafah (south).

The prisoners who were handed over in the Nuseirat camp amidst a military and popular crowd are: Ilya Cohen, Omer Shev Tov, and Omer Finkert. After the Red Cross signed their receipt, the three prisoners climbed onto a platform in the camp to be transported in the international organization's vehicles.

Ceremony of handing over 3 Israeli prisoners held by the Palestinian resistance to the Red Cross in Nuseirat in the central Gaza Strip #Gaza #Gaza_War #News pic.twitter.com/6RqHQZpXca

— Al Jazeera Channel (@AJArabic) February 22, 2025

Earlier today, the Qassam Brigades handed over the captive soldiers Avera Mengistu and Tal Shoham to the Red Cross during a ceremony held east of Rafah.

The Qassam Brigades also decided to hand over the sixth prisoner, conscript Hisham al-Sayyed, without a ceremony in Gaza City out of respect for the Palestinians inside. According to Al Jazeera, which reported that "the occupation abandoned al-Sayyed for 10 years because he was a Palestinian from inside (the Negev), even though he served in its ranks."

The Israeli Broadcasting Corporation quoted a security source as saying that the initial examination showed that the two former prisoners, Mengistu and Shoham - both soldiers - are in good health. Mengistu was captured shortly after entering the Gaza Strip from the Zikim settlement in 2014.

In exchange for the release of the six Israeli prisoners, 602 Palestinian prisoners are expected to be released from the occupation prisons today, including 50 prisoners sentenced to life imprisonment, 60 with long sentences, in addition to 47 prisoners released in the Wafa al-Ahrar deal who were re-arrested by the occupation, according to what was announced by the Prisoners Affairs Office affiliated with the Hamas movement.

445 prisoners from the Gaza Strip who were arrested after October 7, 2023 will also be released.

Scenes from the resistance's release of two Israeli soldiers in Rafah, among the six prisoners that the resistance will release today. pic.twitter.com/Bj4Vem8nqx

— Quds News Network (@qudsn) February 22, 2025

One time exchange

In this regard, the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) said that the reconstruction of Gaza must be carried out with national consensus, and that it will not allow any external force to interfere, indicating its readiness to complete a full exchange process at once, with conditions.

Hamas spokesman Hazem Qassem explained this morning, Saturday, that the second phase negotiations have not yet begun, and that contacts with mediators are ongoing.

Hamas stated that the Israeli occupation did not hand over the lists of Palestinian prisoners scheduled to be released today, stressing its commitment to the ceasefire agreement as long as the occupation is committed to it.

It also reiterated its readiness to complete a full exchange process in one package based on a final cessation of war, the withdrawal of the occupation, and the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip. Hamas also stressed that the guarantee for completing the upcoming exchange processes is the Israeli occupation’s commitment to the remaining terms of the agreement and the implementation of the humanitarian protocol.

Hamas continued by saying, "33 days have passed since the first phase without the occupation completing the implementation of all the terms of the agreement," adding that "the situation in Gaza is catastrophic," noting that the situation "requires pressure from mediators on the occupation to implement the humanitarian protocol."

Abu Obeida, the military spokesman for the Qassam Brigades, announced yesterday evening that the prisoners who will be released are: Ilya Cohen, Omer Shev Tov, Omer Finkert, Tal Shoham, Avra Mengistu, and Hisham al-Sayed. Israel said that the families of the prisoners included in the new exchange operation have been informed.

A member of the Al-Qassam Brigades recites the resistance's decision to release the two Israeli prisoners, Tal Shoham and Avra Mengistu, in Rafah . #Gaza_War #News pic.twitter.com/PsLhRPPwSy

— Al Jazeera Channel (@AJArabic) February 22, 2025

Prisoner handover ceremony

On the delivery platforms in Rafah and Nuseirat, the Qassam Brigades displayed weapons that the resistance fighters had seized during the battles with the Israeli occupation forces, and pictures of the resistance leaders who were martyred in the last war on the Palestinian Strip were also raised.

The handover took place in Rafah in Al-Mashrou' Square, east of the city, hundreds of metres from the Israeli occupation army. A platform was set up in Al-Mashrou' Square in Rafah, on which pictures of Qassam leaders were raised, and a large banner was written, "We are the flood...we are the mighty force," according to Al Jazeera's correspondent.

It is noteworthy that the handover process in the Nuseirat camp is the second to take place in the central Gaza Strip, as a handover process previously took place in Deir al-Balah. The handover ceremony is taking place in an area where Israeli occupation forces have been present for weeks, according to the correspondent.

Al Jazeera's correspondent said that the weapons that will be displayed in the Nuseirat camp were captured by resistance fighters during operations, including the Jhar al-Deek operation carried out by the Qassam Brigades and the "death ambush" operation east of the Maghazi camp, in which 22 Israeli soldiers were killed.

He pointed out that fighters from all resistance factions are participating in the handover ceremony in the camp, and the slogan "The land knows its people... from the foreigners with dual citizenship" appeared on the platform.

Delivery of Pepas' body

Meanwhile, the Israeli Army Radio said that the body of the prisoner Sheri Bibas, who was returned last night from Gaza, was identified early today.

The occupation radio added that Bibas was likely killed in captivity with her two children. Her family and the settlement of Nir Oz confirmed Bibas's death after the Forensic Institute confirmed her identity.

The day before yesterday, the Al-Qassam Brigades handed over the bodies of 3 Israelis who were killed in captivity. Israel later said that one of the bodies belonged to a female citizen from Gaza, and then the body of Bibas was handed over.

Hamas pointed out the possibility of a mistake during the handover of the bodies of the dead Israeli prisoners, stressing that it has no interest in not fulfilling the agreement.

The Israeli army said last night that it was looking into reports that Hamas had handed over a second body to the Red Cross, believed to be that of Bibas, after Hamas handed over a first body the day before yesterday that was found not to be that of the mother of the Bibas children.

For its part, Hamas said in a statement last night that the allegations of the spokesman for the occupation army and his accusation that the resistance killed the Bibas family are nothing but "pure lies that are added to a long series of lies that he has been launching for 15 months in the context of the war of extermination."

Meanwhile, the Israeli Broadcasting Authority reported that Israel is demanding the release of 22 living prisoners in the second phase of the deal.

She added that the United States has set a goal for Israel and Hamas to reach an agreement within the next two weeks, and said that the US special envoy to the Middle East held talks with Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani on the agreement, including the second phase negotiations.

Source: Yemen Youth Net + Al Jazeera