On 6 September 2025, we mark the fifth anniversary of the great Freedom Tunnel on 6 September 2021, in which six Palestinian prisoners liberated themselves from the Zionist occupation regime’s “high security” Gilboa prison.
The following video presents a call to the world from Mahmoud al-Arda, leader of the Gilboa 6 and liberated prisoner in Toufan al-Ahrar. He was liberated alongside Mohammed al-Arda, Ayham Kamamji and Zakaria Zubeidi in the prisoner exchanges achieved by the resistance. The remaining two, Yaqoub Qadri and Munadel Nafa’at, are imprisoned in solitary confinement in Janot prison, in the notorious conditions described just days ago by imprisoned Palestinian leader Hassan Salameh.
On this day, we renew our call for the liberation of Yaqoub Qadri, Munadil Nafa’at and all Palestinian, Lebanese and Arab prisoners in zionist jails — and all prisoners for Palestine in imperialist & collaborationist jails.
In the name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
Today marks a cherished anniversary for us. On this exact day, we managed to wrest our freedom with our own hands from the heavily fortified Gilboa prison.
This heroic epic is a human saga and belongs to the free people of the world, from Ireland to South Africa. It is a cultural heritage for everyone who has walked the path of freedom in prisons.
On this day, I extend my greetings to all the free people of the world who stand in solidarity with their just cause in Palestine. For it is the cause of all humanity, and of those who carry the burdens of the prisoners enduring hardships in prisons.
I also send my greetings to you, and I urge you to persevere on this path until the Palestinian and Lebanese prisoners attain their freedom, and the Palestinian people achieve their right to self-determination.
Today, the prisoners are living under harsh conditions that surpass the medieval era. The free people of the world are called upon to stand together against the brutal Zionist tyranny until its arrogance is halted regarding the prisoners, and they gain their freedom.
Greetings to you once again. I salute you at every moment and every day. Freedom to the prisoners of freedom.
Peace be upon you, and the mercy and blessings of God.
The Freedom Tunnel and the six men who liberated themselves from Zionist prisons in 2021, just months after the Battle of Seif al-Quds/the Dignity Intifada, became national and international symbols of resistance and of the Palestinian will to freedom in seemingly impossible circumstances. The simple spoon became a new icon of the resistance and steadfastness of the Palestinian people and their resistance behind bars. While the six were eventually re-captured, their daring, well-organized escape from Gilboa exposed the weakness hiding beneath the propagandized facade of “impenetrable Israeli security,” a message that would resonate two years later in the Al-Aqsa Flood of 7 October 2023.
The action captured the imaginations of the Palestinian and Arab masses as well as those of international movements, solidarity activists, and liberation struggles. Gilboa Prison Section 5 had been constructed in 2004 and was touted as “invulnerable” to escape attempts; therefore, the Freedom Tunnel also illustrated the power of the will to freedom against an inhuman technological edifice.
The Freedom Tunnel and the six heroes of the self-liberation operation represent the irrepressible hope of freedom and commitment to liberation that no amount of militarized repression and Zionist colonization has suppressed, for over 75 years. The actions of this “Freedom Brigade” are not only a symbol of hope for Palestinians but also for everyone in the world who seeks justice and freedom.
Today, there is greater popular support than ever before for the Palestinian cause, a result of the Al-Aqsa Flood. At the same time, there is a vicious genocidal Zionist enemy, backed to the hilt by the United States, Britain, Germany, France and fellow imperialist powers, in an assault on Palestine, Lebanon, Yemen, Iran and the region as a whole. Inside the occupation prisons, the over 9,600 Palestinians and potentially over 100 Lebanese and Arab prisoners are facing a genocide behind bars: medical mistreatment, starvation, torture, physical, psychological and sexual assault, and a new “execution law”.
The infamous fascist Zionist minister of national security, Itamar Ben-Gvir, is running his electoral campaign based on even further escalations of torture against Palestinian prisoners, with his symbol a noose with which he seeks to hang imprisoned Palestinians.
In this context, Mahmoud al-Arda’s call to action is particularly urgent for all those around the world who stand against genocide and for Palestinian liberation.
Samidoun Palestinian Prisoner Solidarity Network urges all to stand with the Palestinian prisoners’ movement and the Palestinian people to bring an end to the genocide, free Yaqoub Qadri, Munadil Nafa’at, and all Palestinian prisoners, and struggle for the liberation for Palestine, from the river to the sea.
Yaqoub Qadri
Yaqoub Mahmoud Qadri (Ghawadra) was born on 22 December 1972 in Bir al-Basha, Jenin, growing up in Bir al-Basha and neighboring Arraba. As a teen, he was active in the great popular intifada of 1987. Seized by the occupation forces, he became more active following his imprisonment. He was later detained by the Palestinian Authority in 1996 under its “security coordination” with the Israeli occupation, and with the Al-Aqsa Intifada, became active in the resistance with the Palestinian Islamic Jihad Movement, fighting to defend his village and neighboring villages and refugee camps from invasions by occupation soldiers. He is currently held in isolation in Janot Prison.
He participated in the battle to defend Jenin camp in 2002 when it was subjected to massacres by occupation forces, and in operations targeting illegal settlers stealing Palestinian land. He was “wanted” and pursued by the occupation for over a year before he was seized in October 2003 in a cave near Zababdeh. He was sentenced to two life sentences and 35 years after spending four months under severe torture in interrogation in Jalameh interrogation center. He joined Mahmoud al-Ardah in the attempt to escape Shata prison in 2014 before once again joining in the Freedom Tunnel escape. He described the days of his self-liberation as the most beautiful of his life. He suffers from several health problems, including problems with his lymph nodes, a herniated disc and high blood pressure. During his years in prison, he graduated from Al-Aqsa University in Gaza with a bachelor’s degree; he also lost both of his parents while being denied the ability to bid them farewell.
Munadil Nafa’at
Munadil Naf’at, 29, is one of four brothers from Ya’bad, Jenin. His family is heavily involved in the struggle for Palestine, and the four brothers have not been able to meet in one room for 16 years, as one has always been imprisoned. He and his family are farmers; he has been arrested repeatedly since he was 14 years old.
He had been arrested on 11 February 2020 and was sentenced to two and a half years in prison, on allegations of involvement with the resistance and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad Movement at the time of his self-liberation through the Freedom Tunnel. After he participated in the Freedom Tunnel escape, the occupation subsequently added another five years to his sentence, bringing his final sentence to seven and a half years, in addition to a fine of 10,000 shekels.
In isolation in Janot prison, he suffers from shortness of breath, stomach pain and digestive problems, and has lost approximately 15 kilograms (33 pounds).
Samidoun statements on the Freedom Tunnel
- Freedom Tunnel to Al-Aqsa Flood: Prisoners, Resistance and Liberation
- Anniversary of the Freedom Tunnel: Palestinian prisoners reaffirm their leadership in the resistance
- One year on the Freedom Tunnel: Palestinian prisoners leading the resistance
- “Freedom Tunnel” heroes sentenced to additional five years in occupation prisons after self-liberation
- The light of the Freedom Tunnel shines toward liberation
- Freedom Tunnel prisoners recount their drive for liberation: Organize to support the Palestinian prisoners
- The resistance continues: Prisoners announce new steps of struggle
- Liberation through the Freedom Tunnel: Stand with Palestinian Prisoners’ Uprising
- Developing news: Six Palestinian political prisoners liberate themselves from colonial Israeli prison
Videos and songs for the Freedom Tunnel prisoners
The following videos and songs for the Freedom Tunnel prisoners were translated by Palestine Tunes on Telegram:
“A Story of Six Men”, a prisoner anthem dedicated to the “Freedom Tunnel” operation in which six prisoners escaped from “Gilboa” prison. Performed by the Al-Wafa Band in 2021.
“Heroes of the Great Escape Operation From Gilboa Prison”, a prisoner anthem dedicated to the six Palestinian prisoners of the Freedom Tunnel Operation. Produced in 2021.
Discover more from Samidoun: Palestinian Prisoner Solidarity Network
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