The al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas, said on Monday that the newly reached agreement with "Israel" was the outcome of Palestinian steadfastness rather than compromise, calling the deal a political and moral victory for the Resistance after months of war and failed mediation.

The statement came just before the start of the first phase of the captive-detainee exchange, which began Monday morning under the supervision of the International Committee of the Red Cross.

More than 2,000 Palestinian prisoners are expected to be released from Israeli prisons in exchange for Israeli captives held in Gaza, including hundreds of women and children. The process follows weeks of intensive negotiations mediated by Egypt, Qatar, and the United States, and forms part of a broader ceasefire agreement to end the devastating war.

Steadfastness yields victory

In its statement, the brigades said the accord "is the fruit of our people's steadfastness and the resilience of our Resistance fighters," affirming that the group would remain committed to the deal "as long as the occupation abides by it."

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It also framed the agreement as proof of "Israel's" military failure, asserting that the occupation "has failed to recover its captives through military pressure, despite its intelligence superiority and surplus of power." It added that "Israel" was now "submitting and retrieving its captives through a prisoner exchange deal, just as the Resistance had promised from the very beginning."

Fragile truce

The ceasefire and exchange, which began early Monday, involves coordinated operations across Gaza and the West Bank. Red Cross convoys were deployed at Ofer Prison near Ramallah and along the Netzarim corridor in central Gaza to facilitate the transfer. Meanwhile, Palestinian families gathered anxiously outside detention centers awaiting confirmation of their relatives' release, while Israelis assembled at the Reim military base for expected reunions.

Despite the truce, Israeli forces continued overnight raids across the occupied West Bank, including in Beit Lahm, Abu Dis, Nablus, and Deir Istiya, storming homes of prisoners slated for release. Palestinian sources reported several arrests and assaults, underscoring the fragility of the ceasefire even as the exchange began.

Resistance triumph

Al-Qassam accused "Israel" of deliberately prolonging the war for political gain, claiming the occupation "could have recovered most of its captives alive many months ago, but it kept stalling and acting arrogantly, preferring that its army kill dozens of them as a result of its failed policy of military pressure." The group also asserted that "Israel" had sabotaged earlier mediation efforts "to satisfy the savage and vengeful instincts of its Nazi government."

Inside "Israel," the agreement has triggered sharp political backlash. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu faces mounting criticism from his own coalition, with  Haaretz describing the outcome as "an agreement imposed on the weak Netanyahu."

For al-Qassam, the exchange is being celebrated as a strategic and symbolic breakthrough. "The Resistance has always been keen to stop the war of extermination," the group said, "but the enemy thwarted all efforts for its narrow political calculations and the vengeful instincts of its leadership."

The brigades ended their message with a pledge to Palestinian detainees to continue championing their cause, declaring that Gaza and its fighters "have sacrificed their dearest and exerted every effort to break your chains," and vowing that "your freedom will remain at the forefront of our national priorities."

Read more: Hamas official says disarmament only possible when occupation ends