The Palestinian resistance in Gaza handed over 6 Israeli captives to the International Red Cross on Saturday, in the seventh batch of the first phase of the ceasefire and prisoner exchange agreement.
According to reports, the International Red Cross vehicles arrived at the prisoner handover sites in Rafah, south of the Gaza Strip, and in the Nuseirat camp to facilitate the ceremony.
A large contingent of fighters from the Al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas, were deployed at both locations to oversee the proceedings.
Two prisoners were handed over in Rafah, while the remaining four were transferred in Nuseirat.Hundreds of Al-Qassam Brigades members parade in the Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza Strip, organizing to hand over four Israeli captives as part of the prisoner exchange deal.
— Quds News Network (@QudsNen) February 22, 2025
This comes as part of the broader exchange agreement, under which 602 Palestinian prisoners are expected to be released from Israeli prisons today, including 50 serving life sentences and 60 with high sentences.
The handover ceremony was marked by the display of weapons seized by the resistance fighters during their battles with the Israeli occupation forces.Footage captures the moment Al-Qassam Brigades release two Israeli soldier captives in Rafah city, southern Gaza, as part of the seventh batch of the prisoner exchange deal.
— Quds News Network (@QudsNen) February 22, 2025
Additionally, pictures of resistance leaders who were martyred in the last war on the Palestinian Strip were raised on the platforms.
Notably, the body of Sherry Bibas, an Israeli captive who was returned from Gaza the previous night, was identified early on Saturday.The moment Al-Qassam Brigades release Israeli soldier captive Avera Mengistu after ten years of captivity, as part of the prisoner exchange deal.
— Quds News Network (@QudsNen) February 22, 2025
The occupation authorities have indicated that Bibas was most likely killed while in captivity, along with her two children.
Hamas has, however, refuted these allegations, calling them 'pure lies' and part of a 'war of extermination.' As the first phase of the exchange deal progresses, the negotiations for the second phase are ongoing, with the United States setting a two-week goal for Hamas and the Israeli occupation to reach an agreement.
The Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) has stressed its commitment to the ceasefire agreement, emphasizing that the reconstruction of Gaza must be done with national consensus and without external interference.