Occupation forced to stop its delay tactics, will release 620 Palestinian prisoners in Toufan al-Ahrar exchange

Following a series of outrageous ceasefire violations by the Zionist occupation, including the refusal to release the 620 Palestinian prisoners agreed upon in the seventh installment of the first stage of the agreement on Saturday, 22 February. After the Palestinian resistance released six Zionist prisoners in powerful exchange ceremonies in the morning of 22 February — including a point in which one of the freed Zionist prisoners kissed the foreheads of two Izz el-Din al-Qassam Brigades fighters — rather than uphold its responsibilities, the occupation instead attempted to impose new demands.

Hundreds of Palestinian families waited in Khan Younis in Gaza, in Ramallah in the West Bank, and at the notorious Moskobiyeh interrogation center in occupied Jerusalem for their loved ones, stretching into the early morning hours, with multiple notifications that the release would begin soon — only for the occupation to shamelessly violate the agreement, announcing the “postponement” of the release of these 620 Palestinians, one of the final groups of liberated prisoners of the first stage of the ceasefire presently negotiated. This came after multiple reports that the prisoners to be liberated were beaten before being taken to buses, and were then returned to their rooms.

The Palestinian resistance issued clear statements, highlighting that, despite the resistance’s eagerness to pursue a second phase of the ceasefire, it would not engage in any new negotiations so long as the occupation continued the blatant ceasefire violations.

In the early morning hours of Wednesday, 26 February, the Hamas movement issued a statement:

A delegation from the Hamas leadership, headed by Dr. Khalil Al-Hayya, has concluded its visit to Cairo, where it met with Egyptian officials to discuss the implementation of the ceasefire agreement, the prisoner exchange, and preparations for negotiations on the second phase of the agreement.

The delegation reaffirmed Hamas’s clear stance on the need for full and precise adherence to all its terms and stages.

It was also agreed to resolve the issue of the release of Palestinian prisoners who were supposed to be freed in the last batch. Their release will take place simultaneously with the handover of the agreed-upon bodies of Zionist prisoners during the first phase, along with the corresponding release of Palestinian women and children.

The Palestinian resistance had already agreed to release the bodies of four more Zionist prisoners as part of the first phase of the ceasefire agreement; this was not a new condition but part of the existing agreement. Abu Obeida, spokesperson of the Izz el-Din al-Qassam Brigades, issued a statement on Wednesday, 26 February:

As part of the Al-Aqsa Flood prisoner exchange agreement, the Al-Qassam Brigades have decided to hand over the bodies of the following Zionist prisoners tonight:

1. Tsahi Idan
2. Itzik Elgarat
3. Ohad Yahlomi
4. Shlomo Mantzur

The 620 Palestinian prisoners are expected to be released tonight, with the same list of names released on Saturday. They include 454 Palestinians from Gaza seized by the occupation after 7 October 2023; 151 Palestinians with life sentences and long sentences, including 43 returning to the West Bank and Jerusalem, 11 returning to Gaza, and 97 being deported outside Palestine; and 24 Palestinian women and children abducted from Gaza.

The occupation is continuing to attack the families of the prisoners to be liberated tonight, invading the homes of several Jerusalemite prisoners and attempting to threaten them against any form of celebration. Nevertheless, it is through the steadfastness and strength of the Palestinian people and their Resistance that these strugglers for Palestine will be liberated tonight.

Once again, as throughout the history of prisoner exchanges, it has been made clear that it is the resistance that brings liberation, to the prisoners, the land and the people of Palestine, a resistance that stretches from the heart of Gaza, throughout Palestine, to Yemen, Lebanon, Iraq and Iran, and to the people of the world. Samidoun Palestinian Prisoner Solidarity Network salutes all of the prisoners, their families and loved ones, and the Resistance and the people of Gaza who have made their liberation possible.

We urge everyone, around the world, to join with the Palestinian people in Gaza and everywhere, to celebrate the achievements of the Resistance and the humiliation of the occupier, and to celebrate and welcome each liberated prisoner as the heroes of our global movement that they are, in public events, with posters and public education, with actions and events exposing Zionism and imperialism everywhere.

We urge all supporters of Palestine and Palestinian and Arab communities to receive and honour the prisoners virtually and symbolically — and pledge to continue the movement until all of them are free, and all of Palestine is free, from the river to the sea.