Major Prisoner Exchange: Hamas and Israel Set to Swap High-Profile Detainees

Watan-The seventh batch of the prisoner exchange, scheduled for the day after tomorrow (Saturday), is set to include the release of a number of Palestinian prisoners sentenced to life imprisonment. Some of them have spent more than 20 years in Israeli occupation prisons.

According to information obtained by Al Jazeera Net, one of the most prominent prisoners to be released is Abdel Nasser Issa, a founding member of the Al-Qassam Brigades in the West Bank. He has spent over 32 years in Israeli prisons, including 29 consecutive years, and is serving two life sentences plus an additional seven years.

Hamas-Israel Prisoner Swap Set for Saturday

Also set for release is Hamas prisoner Hamza Al-Kalouti from Jerusalem, who was arrested by Israeli forces in September 2000 after being pursued for nearly two years. He was accused of participating in the “Sacred Revenge” operations alongside prisoner Hassan Salameh in retaliation for the assassination of Yahya Ayyash.

Among those being freed in this batch is senior Hamas leader Othman Bilal, a commander of the Nablus cell of the Al-Qassam Brigades and the right-hand man of Abdel Nasser Issa. He was sentenced to five life terms and has spent more than 25 years in captivity.

Also being released is senior Hamas leader Ragheb Aloui, who led the Al-Qassam Brigades’ Itamar operation in 2015, which resulted in the killing of two settlers. He was sentenced to two life terms plus an additional 30 years.

This batch will also include the release of Hamas prisoner Ammar Al-Zaben, who was sentenced to 26 life terms plus an additional 25 years for allegedly overseeing the 1997 bombing operations in the occupied city of Jerusalem (at the Mahane Yehuda and Ben Yehuda markets) carried out by the Al-Qassam Brigades.

Prisoner Exchange Set for Saturday

Lastly, the seventh batch will include the release of Hamas prisoner Haitham Ismail Al-Battat, who was arrested in January 2005 during an armed clash. He was sentenced to three life terms for allegedly supervising the preparation of two suicide bombers, Mohammed Al-Battat and Khaled Al-Tal, who carried out an attack in Beersheba.

Additionally, Hamas today (Thursday) released the bodies of four Israeli prisoners in exchange for Israel’s release of half the number of children and women arrested from Gaza after October 7, 2025. This exchange is set to take place the day after tomorrow (Saturday).

Hamas will also release Israeli prisoners Hisham Al-Sayed and Avera Mengistu (held since 2014) in exchange for the release of 46 Palestinian prisoners who were re-arrested after being freed in the 2011 Shalit deal, on the condition that they be deported.

On the same day, Hamas will release four living Israeli prisoners in exchange for 444 Palestinian prisoners from Gaza who were arrested after October 7, 2023, in addition to 48 prisoners serving life sentences and 60 prisoners with high sentences.

Furthermore, on March 1, 2025, Hamas will release four bodies of Israeli prisoners in exchange for Israel’s release of the remaining children and women from Gaza.