Farrukh Abadi
The third and latest round of prisoner exchanges between the Palestinian resistance and Israel took place on Thursday (01/30) in what Palestinian resistance is calling the Flood of the Free. Hamas released its prisoners of war in Jabaliya, a refugee camp in northern Gaza entirely decimated by Israeli forces, as well as in front of the destroyed home of martyred Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar. Sinwar was a leading visionary of the heroic Operation Al-Aqsa Flood who fought to his last breath fighting Zionist forces last October. Also on display during the prisoner exchanges were captured US-made Israeli weapons belonging to Israeli elite forces, and a Palestinian flag and map.
In the West Bank, Israel once again fired tear gas at family members waiting outside Ofer Prison where the prisoners were released from. Among those released is Zakaria Zubeidi, the former Jenin leader of the resistance group Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades who had been on Israel’s most-wanted list for several years and had previously organized a successful prison break.
Al-Qassam Brigades spokesperson Abu Obeida announced the martyrdom of a number of leaders of Hamas’s military wing over the course of the war, including military commander Mohammad al-Deif, a legendary figure who led the Qassam brigades for decades and was among the orchestrators of Al-Aqsa Flood.
Obeida stated: “The martyrdom of our great leaders, despite our immense loss, did not and will not weaken the resolve of our battalions and resistance.”
Israel continues to violate the terms of the ceasefire in sadistic actions reflecting their frustrations with their defeat by the resistance. On Thursday, at least one child was shot and killed in Gaza and on Friday a teenage fisherman was killed off the coast of Gaza by Israeli naval gunfire.
An Israeli poll shows that only 4% of the Israeli population believes that their war times goals were fully achieved. Netanyahu is set to meet with Trump at the White House next week and is expected to discuss the second phase of the ceasefire. The first phase, which began on January 19, is set to last 6 weeks.
The Rafah crossing between Gaza and Egypt is set to open Friday, allowing wounded Palestinians to receive treatment in Egypt. So far, Gaza government officials and aid agencies report that the number of aid trucks entering Gaza is far below the numbers specified in the ceasefire—though this is nevertheless much higher than the total blockade imposed by the Zionists before.
Another prisoner exchange is planned for Saturday, where Hamas will release 3 Israelis for 90 Palestinians, including 9 lifers and 81 with high sentences, once again snatching life from the jaws of genocide through armed struggle.
Photo: Al-Qassam Brigades members outside the house of martyred Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar in Khan Yunis where Israeli prisoners of war were released. Credit: QNN.
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