Al Mayadeen – February 15, 2025
Hamas hands over 3 Israeli captives as part of sixth batch of deal
The Palestinian Resistance handed over three Israeli captives in Khan Younis, with Resistance fighters from the al-Qassam Brigades and al-Quds Brigades present, clad in military gear. Meanwhile, 369 Palestinian detainees are set to be liberated.
The Palestinian Resistance released three Israeli prisoners—Alexander Tropanov, Sagi Dekel Chen, and Yair Horn—in Khan Yunis on Saturday, located in the southern Gaza Strip. This release is part of the sixth batch in the prisoner exchange process outlined in the ceasefire agreement.
The event saw hundreds of fighters from the al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas, and the al-Quds Brigades, the military wing of Islamic Jihad, stationed in the square where the captives were released.
At the prisoner handover site, the Resistance showcased around ten different weapons captured from the Israeli occupation during the battles, as reported by Al Mayadeen’s correspondent in Khan Younis.
The al-Qassam Brigades also displayed images of several of their martyred leaders on the prisoner handover platform, including Mohammad al-Deif, Chief of Staff; Rafeh Salama, Commander of the Khan Younis Brigade; Shadi Baroud, Deputy Intelligence Commander; and Tayseer al-Mubasher, Commander of the Western Battalion of the Khan Younis Brigade.
Before the handover began, Saraya al-Quds released footage showing prisoner Alexander Turbanov at the moment he was informed about his upcoming release.
Exchange resumed after guarantees for occupation compliance: Hamas
Hamas spokesperson Abdel Latif al-Qanou confirmed that today’s resumption of the exchange process was in line with the Resistanceﾒs commitment to the mediators, having secured guarantees to ensure the occupation's compliance.
Al-Qanou added that the movement’s stance and the mediatorsﾒ efforts resulted in the occupation’s commitment to the agreement, noting that discussions are ongoing to monitor the situation and prepare for the negotiations of the agreement’s second phase.
He emphasized that "the occupation has no alternative but to release all its prisoners," and that this can only be achieved "by fully implementing the provisions of the ceasefire agreement."
According to al-Qanou, the ceasefire agreement has consequences that pose a threat to the future of Netanyahu's government, much like the Battle of Al-Aqsa Flood, adding that Netanyahu’s procrastination and attempts to evade the agreement’s terms to protect himself and his government will not succeed, "as we will not allow the agreement to fail."
"We are waiting for the occupation to begin implementing the humanitarian protocol, as per the promises and guarantees made to us by the mediators."
Liberated Palestinian prisoners
In turn, 369 Palestinian detainees will be released from Israeli occupation prisons on Saturday, including 333 prisoners detained during the war on Gaza and 36 detainees serving life sentences.
For every Israeli captive released, 111 Palestinians detained in Gaza and 12 serving life sentences will be released.
According to Al Mayadeen’s correspondent in the West Bank, 25 detainees will be deported to the Gaza Strip.
Among the detainees who will be released today from Israeli prisons:
- Ahmed Barghouti, the cousin and close aide of prisoner Marwan Barghouti; sentenced to 13 life terms.
- Mansour Shreim, a member of the Fatah movement, responsible for a series of operations that resulted in the deaths of many Israelis during the Second Intifada; sentenced to 14 life terms and an additional 50 years in prison.
- Mohammad Nayfeh Abu Rabia, a leader of the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades during the Second Intifada from Tulkarm; sentenced to life imprisonment.
- Waddah al-Bazra, a leader of the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades in Nablus during the Second Intifada; sentenced to life imprisonment.
- Ahmad Abu Khader, an official of the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades; sentenced to 11 life terms and 50 years in prison.
- https://english.almayadeen.net/news/politics/hamas-hands-over-3-israeli-captives-as-part-of-sixth-batch-o
Hamas condemns Israel for 'racist slogans' on outfits of freed Palestinian prisoners
Hamas says Israel’s move in marking the outfits of released Palestinian prisoners with "racist slogans" comes in sharp contrast to the resistance’s firm commitment to moral values in treating Israeli captives in the Gaza Strip.
The Palestinian prisoners released into the occupied West Bank and al-Quds on Saturday were wearing white sweatshirts, which were marked with a Star of David, and the phrase, “Never forgive, never forget” in Arabic on the front and back
.
“We condemn the occupation’s crime of placing racist slogans on the backs of our heroic prisoners, and treating them with cruelty and violence, in a blatant violation of humanitarian laws and norms,” Hamas said in a statement.
The Palestinian resistance group said this is “in contrastﾠto the resistance’s firm commitment to moral values in treating the occupation’s prisoners.”
It said the “crime of placing racist slogans on the backs of our heroic prisoners and treating them with cruelty and violence” deserves condemnation.
Under a fragile ceasefire agreement that took effect on January 19, Hamas released three more Israeli captives in the Gaza Strip in the sixth such exchange on Saturday.
In exchange, Israel began freeing 369 Palestinian inductees held in the regime’s prisons. It is the largest number of Palestinians to be freed since the beginning of the ceasefire.
In the same statement, Hamas said the release of “our heroic prisoners” is “a new step in our long journey towards Jerusalem (al-Quds).”
“The issue of liberating the prisoners will remain at the top of the priorities of our people and our heroic resistance, and victory will not be complete unless all of them are liberated.”
Hamas also said that the release of Israeli captives has now placed Tel Aviv “before the responsibility of adhering to the agreement and the humanitarian protocol, and starting the second phase negotiations without procrastination.”
About 333 Palestinian prisoners who are returning home today have been arrested in Gaza and will be sent back to the besieged enclave.
About 10 prisoners will be released in the occupied West Bank, one in occupied al-Quds. The other prisoners will go to Egypt where they will be sent to exile.
As part of the ceasefire agreement, Israel committed to releasing over 1,000 of those detained from Gaza since October 2023.
Israeli forces have abducted hundreds of people and held them without trial since the regime launched its brutal campaign of genocide and ethnic cleansing in Gaza on Oct.7, 2023.
https://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2025/02/15/742854/Hamas-Israel-racist-slogans-Star-of-David-Prisoner-swap-ceasefire-deal
Al Mayadeen – February 15, 2025
'Only to al-Quds': Hamas responds to displacement plots amid handover
Hamas has issued a statement and an address stressing that the forced displacement of Palestinians will not be achieved.
"The presence of the image of al-Quds, Al-Aqsa [Mosque], and popular crowds during the handover process of Israeli captives sends the enemy a message, saying that they are red lines," the Hamas Resistance movement said on Saturday.
In a statement issued on Saturday, Hamas said the sixth release of Israeli captives serves as confirmation that their handover can only be achieved through negotiation and commitment to the entitlements of the ceasefire.
"Our people, Ummah, and the free of the world continue witnessing scenes of strength, pride, and dignity, as the Resistance achieved the honorable exchange deal, which embodied the merge of our people and Resistance," the statement further read.
Hamas addressed the general public and responded to all the schemes aimed at forcibly displacing Palestinians, proposed by US President Donald Trump and the colonial powers that support him, affirming that Palestinians will only move to al-Quds.
Hamas hands over 3 Israeli captives as part of sixth batch of deal
The Palestinian Resistance released three Israeli captives—Alexander Tropanov, Sagi Dekel Chen, and Yair Horn—in Khan Younis on Saturday, located in the southern Gaza Strip. This release is part of the sixth batch in the prisoner exchange process outlined in the ceasefire agreement.
The event saw hundreds of fighters from the al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas, and the al-Quds Brigades, the military wing of Islamic Jihad, stationed in the square where the captives were released.
At the captive handover site, the Resistance showcased around ten different weapons captured from the Israeli occupation during the battles, as reported by Al Mayadeen’s correspondent in Khan Younis.
The al-Qassam Brigades also displayed images of several of their martyred leaders on the captive handover platform, including Mohammad al-Deif, Chief of Staff; Rafeh Salama, Commander of the Khan Younis Brigade; Shadi Baroud, Deputy Intelligence Commander; and Tayseer al-Mubasher, Commander of the Western Battalion of the Khan Younis Brigade.
Before the handover began, the al-Quds Brigades released footage showing captive Alexander Turbanov at the moment he was informed about his upcoming release.
https://english.almayadeen.net/news/politics/-only-to-al-quds---hamas-responds-to-displacement-plots-amid
Al Mayadeen – February 15, 2025
Toll hits 160,000 martyrs, wounded in Israeli aggression on Gaza
The Ministry of Health in Gaza reports an increase in martyrs and wounded as the occupation continues to violate the ceasefire agreement.
The Ministry of Health in the Gaza Strip announced on Saturday that the death toll from the Israeli aggression has risen to 48,264 martyrs, with 111,688 others injured since October 7, 2023.
According to the latest daily report, 25 martyrs and 12 wounded individuals were brought to Gaza hospitals over the past 48 hours.
The report also highlighted that several victims remain trapped under rubble and along roads, with rescue efforts hindered as ambulance and civil defense teams are unable to access these areas.
Two days ago, Israeli occupation forces carried out detonations near the security fence east of al-Fukhari, east of Khan Younis, early Thursday morning, according to Al Mayadeen’s correspondent in Gaza. Meanwhile, Israeli tanks opened fire at the al-Awda Roundabout in central Rafah.
Rafah Mayor Ahmed Al-Soufi stated that 60% of the city remains under Israeli control, with widespread destruction of homes.
He added that invading Israeli units continue targeting designated "safe zones," endangering civilians and obstructing humanitarian and reconstruction efforts.
Al-Soufi called for urgent international intervention to halt ongoing Israeli violations since the ceasefire agreement was signed.
Al Mayadeen – February 15, 2025
Yemen will intervene militarily to thwart Trump's Gaza plan: Al-Houthi
The leader of Yemen’s Ansar Allah movement directs the Yemeni Armed Forces to maintain full readiness in anticipation of any American aggression.
Yemen will intervene militarily to prevent US President Donald Trump's plan to forcibly displace the Palestinian people from their homeland, the leader of Yemen’s Ansar Allah movement, Sayyed Abdul-Malik al-Houthi, threatened on Thursday, adding that the country is acting within its duty and that it will not remain a bystander.
In a speech addressing the latest regional and international developments, Sayyed al-Houthi stated that Trump’s plan to uproot Palestinians from their homeland constitutes a violation of a fundamental right from which numerous other rights stem.
He described Trump as a "criminal accustomed to making statements that resemble nonsense and buffoonery," adding that "his plan is more akin to a joke" and naive rhetoric coming from the leader of a country "that presents itself as a civilized nation under false pretenses."
Sayyed al-Houthi emphasized that Trump’s repeated promotion of the forced displacement of Palestinians demonstrates his insistence on "a criminal scheme" that disregards justice and legitimate rights.
The Yemeni leader denounced Trump’s plan as "invalid and unjust," stressing that "Trump appears determined to promote it and exert pressure on certain Arab states to accept it."
"We are not surprised by this plan from the US president, whose policies reflect tyranny and a history of criminality," Sayyed al-Houthi said, pointing out that "there are no limits to the ambitions of the American president, who advocates for the aggressive and oppressive Zionist project and seeks to see it fulfilled."
The Ansar Allah leader further noted that while Trump’s first term was marked by the so-called "Deal of the Century," his second term has escalated to "the Crime of the Century." He explained that through this plan, Trump aims to achieve what the Israeli aggression on Gaza has failed to accomplish—namely, the forced displacement of Palestinians from their land.
Sayyed al-Houthi asserted that when the US proposes the displacement of Palestinians from Gaza and the occupied West Bank, it is actively working toward the complete annihilation of the Palestinian cause.
He added that Washington’s deception has been exposed in every stage of the so-called "peace process", as the Americans themselves have "reneged on all agreements brokered between the Palestinian Authority and the Israeli enemy regarding the two-state solution"—agreements they supervised and sponsored.
Arab world bears great responsibility in rejecting Trump's plan
Sayyed al-Houthi pointed out that the US has not even considered or respected the Arab nations that abandoned Gaza during the aggression and that Washington continues to support "Israel’s" expansion and its occupation of remaining Arab territories.
Given this reality, the Yemeni leader stressed the importance of recognizing the implications of Trump’s displacement plan, which is merely one component of the Zionist project aimed at territorial expansion and the targeting of holy sites, foremost among them the al-Aqsa Mosque.
The success of this scheme, he warned, hinges on Arab acceptance of it, underscoring that Trump’s plan can only succeed if the Arab states, particularly those neighboring Palestine, accept it.
Sayyed al-Houthi noted that the Arab nations that have explicitly rejected Trumpﾒs plan bear a significant responsibility, and while their stance is important, their steadfastness in maintaining this position is even more crucial.
He underlined that the Arab world must not accept Trump’s plan, for doing so would make them "complicit in the heinous crime of forced displacement," warning that "Washington is seeking to entrap them."
The Ansar Allah leader emphasized the necessity of capitalizing on the broad Arab and international consensus against Trump’s plan by uniting and resisting any attempts to be used as tools by the US.
He also urged all parties to stand in solidarity with the Palestinian people and maintain an unwavering stance in rejecting the plan—otherwise, it would constitute "a great betrayal."
According to Sayyed al-Houthi, "any approval of Trump’s plan will have dire consequences for the region."
Yemen remains firm in supporting Palestinian people
Regarding the Yemeni stance on this plan, Sayyed al-Houthi affirmed that Yemen’s position is "steadfast and principled in supporting the Palestinian people and its Resistance fighters and standing by them in every possible way."
He explained that "Israel" has yet to comply with the requirements of the ceasefire agreement by preventing the entry of aid, essential equipment, and tents, noting that the occupation entity has violated the agreement with encouragement from Trump, whom he described as "the deceptive guarantor and buffoon—who disregards all rights and has threatened the Resistance with hell if it does not release the captives."
The Yemeni leader warned against any form of bargaining or compromise, as the US "may resort to postponement rather than cancellation." In response to Trump's threats, he declared, "Hell awaits you and your likes—tyrants, criminals, and arrogant."
While stressing the need for "a strong, clear, and unequivocal" Arab and Islamic stance in the face of tyranny, Sayyed al-Houthi cautioned that the region "could face a major crisis, as the enemy cannot retrieve its captives through the language of aggression and threats."
Yemen will respond militarily to any aggression on Gaza
In this context, the leader of Ansar Allah warned that Yemen will immediately take military action against both "Israel" and the US if they launch an attack on Gaza—whether on, before, or after Saturday. He also called on the Yemeni Armed Forces to maintain full readiness in anticipation of any American aggression.
"We will not hesitate to strike both the Israeli and American enemies, and we will closely monitor the implementation of the agreement," he underlined.
He said that on Friday, the Yemeni people will send a warning message to "Israel" and the US through a million-man demonstration, cautioning them against reneging on the deal.
Concluding his speech, Sayyed al-Houthi reaffirmed that Yemen will remain vigilant and in continuous coordination with the Resistance fighters in Palestine and the Axis of Resistance.
Addressing them directly, he stated, "You are not alone. We stand with you and will remain by your side until Palestine is liberated and these satanic, invalid plans are thwarted."
46 years since Islamic Revolution, Palestine still at the heart of Iran's foreign policy
By Iqbal Jassat
As a remarkable testament to the resilience of a people who pulled off one of the most outstanding and popular socio-political movements in modern history, the Islamic Republic of Iran celebrated the 46th anniversary of the victory of its Islamic Revolution last week.
From Warsaw to Cairo and from Pretoria to capitals around the globe that have diplomatic relations with Iran, events marking the commemoration of the revolution signaled not only the strength and stability of the Islamic Republic but also the strategic value of such ties. 
Equally remarkable is that the bedrock of Iran's foreign policy as encapsulated by the iconic leader of the 1979 Islamic Revolution Imam Khomeini (RA) at the dawn of the historic revolution from a repressive and pompous Western client-regime led by the Shah, to a popular mass-based Islamic Republic, has remained steadfast.
A resounding message reaffirming Iran's unwavering commitment to Palestine's freedom struggle - forming this bedrock - was heard loudly during these commemorations.
Far from being merely symbolic, it was noteworthy and strategic that Iran's ambassadors found it essential to honor the memory of the martyrs of the Palestinian resistance movement.
They emphasized that the ceasefire agreement between the Gaza-based Hamas resistance group and the occupying Zionist regime marked a decisive victory for the resistance who courageously withstood fifteen months of horror, devastation and mass slaughter.
Despite the suffering and pain caused by the genocide and multiple forced displacements, the resilience, courage and steadfastness of Palestinians echoed the decades of struggle Iranians waged against Western powers and their fake "Peacock Thrones".
Much to the dismay of the Israeli regime, which along with the United States and unelected Arab despots had waged countless campaigns to impose so-called "regime change" in Tehran, the 46th anniversary of the Islamic Revolution defined a pivotal moment in Iran's history.
The successful revolution saw the emergence of an era based on independence, freedom and justice. As it traversed close to five decades of hostility, war and sanctions, Iranians can be proud of their enormous progress in various fields.
Studies by UNESCO confirm that there has been exponential growth in knowledge-based firms and start-ups, which it attributes to heightened domestic demand combined with the multiplication of technology incubators and accelerators since the launch of the country’s first public innovation centers in 2015.
Undoubtedly the pace of growth in science and technology is due to the government policies, unlike the stagnancy that existed during the era of the Shah before 1979.
In addition, in a recent article, Italian economist Giancarlo Elia Valori was clear that with time since the Islamic Revolution, a big step has been taken towards the autonomy of various institutions in the Persian Gulf country, including universities.
"Increasing the number and improving the quality of universities has been one of the main measures implemented since the first half of the 1980s", wrote Valori.
Beyond this and against the background of Israel’s fixation on undermining and destroying Iran's revolutionary gains, not excluding regime change, the Islamic Republic has developed a highly sophisticated drone and missile industry.
Given such malevolent hostilities, it is necessary to understand that Tehran regards drone and missile technology as crucial to resist and challenge both American and Israeli hegemonic ambitions within Iran and the wider West Asia region. 
Iran's successful ousting of a well-armed American stooge has meant that the world's so-called "superpower" - now in the hands of an erratic, unpredictable moron called Donald Trump - will do its best to undermine and reverse the gains of the Islamic Revolution.
Since Trump's re-occupation of the White House, Washington has reinstated its “maximum pressure” policy on Tehran but also si
However during his commemoration speech, Iran's Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei rejected any prospect of talks, stating, "Negotiating with such a government should not be done; it is neither wise, intelligent, nor honorable."
“The Americans sit and redraw the map of the world— but only on paper, as it has no basis in reality,” he declared.
Hamas leaders who participated in the 46th-anniversary celebrations congratulated Ayatollah Khamenei and expressed gratitude for Iran's continued support.
Iran’s leader received Mohammed Darwish, chairman of Hamas's Shura Council, Khalil al-Hayya, acting Hamas leader, and Zaher Jabarin, Hamas leader in the Occupied West Bank, among other officials on the eve of the anniversary of the 1979 Islamic Revolution.
Ayatollah Khamenei described the ceasefire agreement as a great achievement and called on the Muslim world and all supporters of the resistance to help reduce the pain and suffering of Palestinians.
To reaffirm Iran's unconditional solidarity and support for Palestine's freedom struggle, which has been a fundamental pillar of the country’s foreign policy since the 1979 Revolution, he made it clear: "The issue of Palestine is a main matter for us and Palestine's victory is a definite issue."
Iqbal Jassat is an executive member of Media Review Network, Johannesburg, South Africa.
