Why it matters:
The refusal to free these key figures threatens to complicate the fragile ceasefire and prisoner swap deal that aims to end genocide in Gaza, highlighting deep divisions and red lines in the ceasefire negotiations.
The big picture:
After intense indirect talks in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt, involving Palestinian and Israeli delegations, supported by U.S. envoys including Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, a ceasefire and prisoner exchange deal was reached on October 9, 2025. However, the Israeli regime's obstruction of the release of six iconic Palestinian resistance leaders has reignited tensions, as Hamas firmly insists on their unconditional freedom within the framework of the agreement.
What we're hearing:
According to Israeli daily Yedioth Ahronoth, these commanders are considered “red lines” by the Israeli regime due to their involvement in past attacks and lengthy prison sentences. Their release is non-negotiable for Tel Aviv despite Hamas’s persistent demands.
Zoom In:
The Six Palestinian commanders whom Israeli regime refuses to release:
1. Marwan Barghouti
- Leader within the Fatah movement and former Palestinian parliamentarian
- Arrested in 2002 and sentenced to five life terms plus 40 years by the Israeli regime
- Accused of leading Al-Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigades and orchestrating attacks during the Second Intifada
- Holds significant iconic status despite imprisonment; recently threatened by Israel’s Public Security Minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir
2. Ahmad Saadat
- Secretary-General of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP)
- Arrested following the 2001 killing of an Israeli tourism minister; sentenced to 30 years
- Not affiliated with Hamas, but his release is part of a broader national Palestinian demand
3. Abbas al-Sayyid
- Commander of Hamas’s Al-Qassam Brigades in Tulkarm
- Serving 35 life sentences; a key figure in Palestinian resistance
4. Ibrahim Hamed
- Hamas military commander in the West Bank
- Sentenced to 54 life terms; labeled by Israel as the “most dangerous prisoner"
5. Abdullah Barghouti
- Hamas military engineer and explosives expert
- Sentenced to life imprisonment for his role in an operation that killed 66 Zionist occupiers and injured hundreds.
6. Hassan Salameh
- One of the founders of Hamas’s Al-Qassam Brigades
- Led retaliatory operations after the assassination of Yahya Ayyash, including attacks on Road 18 in the occupied al-Quds and Asqalan junction
- Serving 46 life sentences, recently authored a book titled *Burnt Buses* from prison, drawing ire from the Israeli regime
Go deeper:
Hamas Agrees Gaza Ceasefire and Return of Captives
M.Majdi - M.a.Mahmoudi
