Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Palestinian platforms: Settlers storm Al-Aqsa Mosque complex under the protection of the occupation police
Palestinian platforms: The IOF detonated a booby-trapped robot east of the al-Zaytoun neighborhood, south of Gaza City
Syrian Defense: We call on all parties in Sweida to cooperate with security forces and exercise restraint
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: The Lebanese Army is continuing its investigations and will later announce any information that does not affect the confidentiality of the investigation
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: It has not yet been determined whether the detainees belong to ISIS or another organization
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Around 10 people of different nationalities, including Lebanese nationals, were detained
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: The Lebanese army arrested a number of people in the Matn area of Mount Lebanon with possession it has not disclosed
Gaza Civil Defense spokesman: We have strong indications that there are martyrs, injuries, and trapped people in the Salah al-Din area
Gaza Civil Defense spokesman: Citizens should avoid Salah al-Din Street because anyone who approaches it is at risk of being directly targeted
Gaza Civil Defense spokesman: Reality is that there is a very limited retreat of the vehicles, with the occupation forces providing cover undeer fire up to Salah al-Din Street

Mastermind Behind 'Operation Freedom Tunnel' Starts 26th Year in Prison

  • By Al Mayadeen
  • Source: Al Mayadeen & Agencies
  • 21 Sep 2021 18:17
3 Min Read

During his imprisonment, prisoner Mahmoud Al-Aridah completed a bachelor's degree and published several literary and intellectual works.

  • x
  • Palestinian prisoner Mahmoud Ardah
    Palestinian prisoner Mahmoud Al-Aridah has been captured by the Israeli occupation forces. 

Palestinian prisoner Mahmoud Al-Aridah, the mastermind of operation freedom tunnel, entered Tuesday his 26th year in the Israeli occupation's prisons.

Operation freedom tunnel saw six Palestinian prisoners breaking out from Gilboa Prison. The six prisoners were Zakaria al-Zubaidi, Munadel Nafi'at, Mohammad Al-Aridah, Yaqoub Qadri, Ayham Kamamji, Mahmoud Al-Aridah.

The occupation forces arrested Mahmoud five days after he liberated himself following a very long and strenuous search. He is currently held in Jalamah detention and investigation center.

Al-Aridah was arrested on September 21, 1996. He was sentenced to 15 years and life in prison. The occupation arrested him in 1992, where he spent three years in prison.

Al-Aridah had previously attempted to dig a tunnel in Shatta Prison. However, a guard caught him and put him in solitary confinement throughout 2014.

Mahmoud Al-Aridah is one of the leaders of the PIJ prisoners in the occupation prisons, and he is of high intellectual and cultural stature there.

Related News

Fourth episode of The Heroes: From freedom to captivity

The Heroes on Al Mayadeen: Full story of liberation from Gilboa Prison

During his imprisonment, he completed a bachelor's degree and released multiple intellectual and literary works.

Mahmoud Al-Aridah, 45, is from Arraba, which turned into military barracks for the Israeli occupation forces. He witnessed the IOF raiding his family home numerous times.

Mohamad Al-Aridah, Mahmoud's brother, told Al Mayadeen during an exclusive call from Jenin that the Israeli occupation forces have arrested all his siblings, and that they were all released except for Shaddad, who spent seven years in prison.

"The occupation's courts have postponed the trial of the operation freedom tunnel's heroes until the 29th of September," he added.

The prisoner had sent a heartfelt letter to his mother on Friday through his lawyer:

"I tried to go to you and embrace you, dear mother before you leave this world, but God has decreed for us otherwise.

You are eternally present in my heart and spirit… I would love you to know that I ate figs, prickly pears, and pomegranates from all across Palestine. I have also eaten sumac and wild thyme. After 25 years of deprivation, I have finally eaten guava again, and in my sleeve, I bore a jar of honey as a gift for you. Please send my greetings to my beloved sisters Bassima, Rouba, Khitam, Sa’ida, and all the brothers whom I strongly miss," he wrote. 

  • gilboa escape
  • Palestine
  • Gilboa Prison
  • Palestinian Islamic Jihad
  • PIJ
  • Freedom Tunnel

Most Read

Hezbollah SG reveals war details on Al Mayadeen for the first time

Hezbollah SG reveals war details on Al Mayadeen for the first time

  • Politics
  • 8 Jul 2025
Major ambush in Gaza kills 6 Israeli troops, injures dozens

Major ambush in Gaza kills 5 Israeli troops, injures 14

  • Politics
  • 8 Jul 2025
Israeli soldiers are seen in Beit Hanoun ahead of an operation by the al-Qassam Brigades, undated (Al-Qassam Brigades Military Media)

'Israel' on blast as media exposes report discrepancies in Gaza ambush

  • Palestine
  • 8 Jul 2025
Yemen Navy sinks ETERNITY C ship, shares footage of operation

Yemen Navy sinks ETERNITY C ship, shares footage of operation

  • Politics
  • 9 Jul 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
The Freedom Flotilla ship Handala as it departs for Gaza, where it aims to break the maritime blockade at a port in Syracuse, Sicily in southern Italy on July 13, 2025. (AFP)
Palestine

Freedom Flotilla's Handala departs Sicily in bid to break Gaza siege

The container ship CMA CGM Laperouse, left, docks at the Georgia Ports Authority's Port of Savannah, Sept. 29, 2021, in Savannah, Ga (AP)
Politics

US shipbuilding woes deepen as tariffs, outdated policies backfire

Gaza war raises ethical questions for ex-Obama, Biden officials
Politics

Mercenary firm tied to Gaza war crimes hires Obama-Biden PR operatives

'Israel' targets children in Gaza collecting water
Palestine

'Israel' strikes Gaza kids fetching water, blames it on 'malfunction'

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS