‘Israel’ released 39 Palestinian prisoners on Sunday, marking the third phase of a prisoner exchange deal between the occupation and the resistance. The atmosphere was tense as the occupation forces cracked down on any gathering in front of Ofer Prison and in the town of Beitunia, using live bullets and tear gas against citizens and journalists, resulting in injuries.
The immediate aftermath of the release of siblings Qassam and Naser Al Awar by Israel as part of the agreement with the Palestinian resistance.
Qassam and Naser have undergone multiple summons for interrogations, with their first interrogation occurring when they were just 4 and… pic.twitter.com/6ACc8aYTdZ
— PALESTINE ONLINE 🇵🇸 (@OnlinePalEng) November 26, 2023
However, despite the heavy-handed tactics, thousands of Palestinians gathered in the center of the city of Ramallah to welcome the liberated prisoners. Carrying the flags of the Hamas movement, the crowd chanted slogans in support of the resistance. The prisoners, who were mostly children, wore the bandanas of the Al-Qassam Brigades, expressing their gratitude to the group for their role in the prisoner release.
🇵🇸 The Palestinians, Hamas celebrate a moral victory with release of more Palestinian prisoners.
Palestinian resistance is clearly building unity through defiance, while in Israel, the initial unity after Oct. 7 seems to have evaporated in the face of protests and conflicting… pic.twitter.com/9UO0nI5gvt
— John Jenkins (@johnm_jenks) November 27, 2023
One of the prisoners spoke out about the dire conditions within the prisons, describing them as catastrophic. They expressed their gratitude to the resistance and the people of Gaza, stating that without their efforts, the prisoners would not have been able to leave. The released prisoner also shared a heart-wrenching account of witnessing the beating and subsequent murder of occupation prisoner Thaer Abu Assab, emphasizing the prisoners’ demand for basic rights and fair treatment.
Meanwhile, in occupied Jerusalem, the occupation forces carried out multiple raids on the homes of liberated prisoners, mistreating their families and preventing media coverage of the release. These actions only added to the tension surrounding the exchange deal.
Mahmoud Mardawi, the leader of the Islamic Resistance Movement Hamas, warned that the resistance would not tolerate any violations of the truce agreement brokered by Qatar and Egypt.
He urged the international community to take action and put an end to the occupation forces’ crimes against the Palestinian people.
Mardawi emphasized the potential for a comprehensive deal to exchange prisoners, highlighting the ongoing internal disputes within the occupation. He called on the world to restrain the occupation and prevent further atrocities.
Overall, the prisoner exchange deal represents a significant development in the ongoing struggle for justice in Palestine. The Palestinian resistance’s strength and the unwavering determination of the Palestinian people have forced the Israeli occupation authorities to make concessions.
Source: Palestinian media (translated by Al-Manar English Website)
