Hamas congratulated newly freed Palestinian prisoners and their families on Monday, describing their release as a “bright national milestone” in the ongoing struggle for independence and sovereignty. In a statement, the movement said Operation Flood of the Free reflects the unity of the Palestinian people and underscores that adherence to resistance and national rights remains the path toward liberation and the establishment of an independent Palestinian state.
The statement highlighted the joy among families across Gaza and the occupied West Bank, calling it “a testament to the strength and resilience of our people, unbroken by the crimes of the enemy.” Hamas also criticized Israeli leaders, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, accusing them of failing to suppress public celebrations and of committing systematic abuse and torture against Palestinian prisoners.
Palestine’s Prisoners’ Information Office confirmed that the first of 38 buses carrying detainees from Gaza departed for the Strip, marking the start of a large-scale exchange under the Gaza ceasefire agreement. A total of 1,966 prisoners were prepared for release, including 250 serving life sentences, while 154 will travel abroad. Several detainees have spent decades behind bars. Large crowds in Khan Younis and Ramallah gathered to welcome the freed prisoners, waving flags of Hamas and Islamic Jihad.
Hamas emphasized that Israeli authorities were forced to comply with the resistance’s conditions for the exchange. The movement stressed that its captives were treated humanely despite attempts by Israeli forces to target them, contrasting this with what it described as systematic abuse of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails.
Meanwhile, Yemen’s Supreme Political Council head, Mahdi al-Mashat, affirmed his country’s readiness to monitor the ceasefire and ensure aid reaches Gaza. Speaking on the 62nd anniversary of Yemen’s October 14 Revolution, al-Mashat said Yemeni forces are upgrading military capabilities to respond to developments and to deter aggression. He also criticized the United States for exploiting regional tensions in favor of Israel and called on Saudi Arabia to end hostilities and enforce peace measures.
Al-Mashat reiterated Yemen’s solidarity with Palestinians, as well as with the peoples of Lebanon and Syria, praising the support of countries and groups such as Hezbollah, Iraq, and Iran that oppose Israeli actions in the region. He called for a firm Arab and Islamic stance against Israeli aggression and for continued efforts to uphold Palestinian rights and regional stability.
