Al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas, on Monday released all 20 living Israeli detainees held in Gaza, delivering a major milestone in the US-brokered plan to halt Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza.
The handover began in northern Gaza, where seven Israeli captives were transferred to the International Committee of the Red Cross in the morning. Thirteen more were released in Khan Younis later that day, fulfilling the Palestinian part of the deal.
Al-Qassam Brigades hand over 13 live Israeli detainees to the Red Cross in the southern Gaza Strip, Oct. 13, 2025.In a statement posted to Telegram, Al-Qassam Brigades described the move as “the fruit of our people’s steadfastness and our fighters’ resilience,” reaffirming its commitment to the timeline of the agreement—as long as Israel complies.
“The resistance has long sought to end the genocide,” the group said, accusing Israel of sabotaging early negotiation attempts “to satisfy its government’s bloodlust and narrow political interests.”
The statement reiterated that Israel failed to retrieve its captives through military means—“despite intelligence superiority and firepower”—and was ultimately forced to accept an exchange deal, “just as the resistance promised.”
Al-Qassam also claimed that Israel could have recovered most captives alive months earlier, but instead chose a military pressure campaign that led to the deaths of dozens of its own nationals held inside Gaza.
As part of the same agreement, Israeli authorities released 1,966 Palestinian prisoners. Of these, 1,716 were from Gaza and are expected to arrive at Nasser Medical Complex in the Strip. The remaining 250, many of them serving life or long-term sentences, are being transferred to the West Bank, Jerusalem, or deported abroad.
Al-Qassam Brigades hand over 13 live Israeli detainees to the Red Cross in the southern Gaza Strip, Oct. 13, 2025.The Commission of Prisoners and Detainees Affairs' called the swap “a great national day,” noting that 154 of the released prisoners were deported. The commission also accused Israel of attempting to manipulate the approved list of names, but said resistance negotiators held firm.
Shortly before the release, Israeli forces stormed Beitunia, near Ramallah, where prisoners were being transferred. Troops fired tear gas and live bullets at journalists and confined local residents to their homes.
Earlier, Hamas had reportedly informed mediators it might not be able to recover all bodies of deceased Israeli captives by Monday, citing restricted access. Despite this, Israel agreed to proceed with the deal. The source added that Arab and international forensic teams would assist in locating burial sites.
The agreement followed US President Donald Trump’s announcement last Thursday that Israel and Hamas had signed the first phase of a Gaza agreement. The Israeli occupation forces confirmed shortly after that it had completed its withdrawal in line with the accord, instructing Palestinians to avoid approaching Israeli forces stationed along Gaza’s borders.
Indirect negotiations between Israel and Hamas began on Oct. 6, 2025, in Sharm El-Sheikh. Participants in various rounds included Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, Turkish intelligence chief Ibrahim Kalin, Egyptian intelligence chief Hassan Rashad, Israeli adviser Ron Dermer, and US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner. These talks produced what is now known as the Sharm El-Sheikh Agreement, a central component of the Trump plan to end the war.
