Palestinian leader: 'Israel' deported unwilling detainees to Gaza
A Palestinian leader confirms to Al Mayadeen that "Israel" deported released Palestinian detainees to Gaza without consent, violating the ceasefire.
A Palestinian leader confirmed in a statement to Al Mayadeen that the Israeli occupation has forcibly deported several freed detainees, within the context of the exchange deal, to the Gaza Strip without their consent. This, he emphasized, constitutes a clear violation of the ceasefire agreement.
The leader further explained that 21 detainees from the occupied West Bank had arrived in Gaza on Saturday.
As part of the ceasefire agreement, many Palestinian detainees held in Israeli occupation prisons were released in four batches. Among them were Palestinians serving lengthy life sentences.
In exchange, Palestinian Resistance fighters handed over Israeli captives from various locations within Gaza, with fighters from different factions participating in the handover. The crowds gathered at the handover sites were seen raising Resistance flags and displaying images of martyrs.
Earlier today, a fourth group of Israeli captives held by Palestinian factions were released in exchange for "Israel’s" release of 183 Palestinian detainees.
Preparations for the exchange have been in full swing in Khan Younis, southern Gaza, as Israeli reconnaissance drones hover overhead, closely monitoring the operation.
"في هذه اللحظات يتحرر الأسرى من سجن عوفر"
— قناة الميادين (@AlMayadeenNews) February 1, 2025
مراسلة #الميادين هناء محاميد #فلسطين_المحتلة #طوفان_الأقصى pic.twitter.com/8fHiWMNIrg
In a related development, "Israel" released 72 Palestinian detainees serving life or long-term sentences and 111 detainees from Gaza who were arrested after October 7, 2023.
Nahed Al-Fakhouri, head of media at the Martyrs, Prisoners, and Wounded Affairs Office, has previously stated that following the Palestinian Resistance’s submission of Israeli captives' names, the scheduled release included:
- 18 Palestinian detainees serving life sentences
- 54 detainees with long-term or life sentences
- 111 Gazans detained after October 7
Al-Fakhouri emphasized that "the release of this batch comes as part of the Palestinian Resistance’s relentless efforts in the battle to free Palestinian detainees, reaffirming its national and moral commitment to breaking their chains and ending their suffering in occupation prisons."
Read more: 'No alternative. Hamas is Gaza, and Gaza is Hamas': Israeli media