Al Mayadeen – February 8, 2025
Fifth batch:
Three Israeli captives in exchange for 183 Palestinians
The Palestinian Resistance will release three Israeli captives today as part of the fifth round of the ceasefire agreement, while 183 Palestinian detainees will be liberated in return.
The fifth round of the prisoner-captive exchange deal began this Sunday morning, as part of the first phase of the ceasefire agreement, which facilitates the exchange of prisoners between the Palestinian resistance and the Israeli occupation.
As per the terms of the agreement, the Palestinian Resistance will release three Israeli captives: Eliyahu Datsun Yosef Sharabi, Or Avraham Lisha Levyi, and Ohad Ben Ami.
Al Mayadeen’s correspondent in the Gaza Strip reported increased activity in Deir al-Balah, located in the central Gaza Strip, with al-Qassam Brigades members and their weapons deployed ahead of the start of the exchange operation.
In response to Netanyahu, the al-Qassam Brigades, surrounded by hundreds of Palestinians, displayed a large banner on the Deir al-Balah platform reading: "We are the flood...we are the next day."
Israeli media reported, "While Netanyahu was in Washington, Hamas mocked the Prime Minister by setting up a platform with a banner reading 'Absolute Victory' alongside an image of Netanyahu."
In exchange for the three Israeli prisoners to be released, the Israeli occupation is expected to free 18 prisoners serving life sentences, 54 prisoners with long sentences, and 111 prisoners from the Gaza Strip who were arrested after October 7, 2023.
In this context, Israeli media said that it is difficult to ignore prisoners who will be released, including Hatem al-Jousi, who is considered the founder of the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades and is sentenced to six life sentences, or Shadi Barghouti, the son of Fakhri al-Barghouti, who participated in the killing of Israeli officer Mordechai Yekuel.
Also among those to be released is Hamas official Jamal al-Tawil, who was arrested in Ramallah in June 2021. Additionally, the total number of prisoners released in today’s deal reaches 183, matching the number released in the fourth round.
Al Mayadeen's correspondent reported that the Israeli occupation threatened the families of prisoners Jamal al-Tawil and Shadi al-Barghouti in Ramallah with consequences if they celebrated their release. She stated that released prisoner Fakhri al-Barghouti was transferred for treatment after being assaulted by Israeli soldiers during a raid on his home in the town of Kobar, north of Ramallah.
Al Mayadeen – February 8, 2025
Islamic countries capable of rebuilding Gaza: Iran tells Hamas
Iranian President Masous Pezeshkian confirms his country's support for Gaza and the Axis of Resistance in a meeting with Hamas officials in Tehran.
Iran will continue to support the Axis of Resistance and Gaza's residents, President Masoud Pezeshkian affirmed on Saturday.
While hosting a Hamas delegation in Tehran, Pezeshkian noted that Islamic countries can reconstruct Gaza and revive it, stressing the need for the formation of an international coalition, which would include these countries, for Gaza's reconstruction and extending support to its residents.
According to the president, "This is certainly possible."
He also stressed that Iran would continue to support the Axis of Resistance and the oppressed people of Gaza, expressing confidence that the "final victory would be in favor of the resistance." 
Earlier today, Sayyed Khamenei received Hamas Shura Council chairman Mohammad Ismail Darwish, as well as the Resistance group's acting leader Khalil al-Hayya and other members of the group's political bureau in Tehran.
Hamas's Shura Council, the key consultative body responsible for electing its politburo, is on a regional tour led by Darwish and his delegation. The tour includes stops in Egypt, Turkiye, and now Tehran.
Sayyed Khamenei called on the Palestinian Resistance to persevere, stressing it is “necessary to plan for cultural works and continue the current path of PR works alongside military affairs and the reconstruction of Gaza.”
The Leader described faith as the main “asymmetric weapon” of the Resistance front against the enemy, adding, “It is because of this faith that the Islamic
Outrage as Netanyahu says Palestinians could establish own state in Saudi Arabia
Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu has sparked yet another wave of outrage after suggesting that Saudi Arabia should provide land for the people of Palestine.
In an interview with an Israeli TV channel, Netanyahu said on Saturday the kingdom “can create a Palestinian state in Saudi Arabia; they have a lot of land over there.”
In reaction to his outrageous remarks, British Labour Party lawmaker Afzal Khan said, “Netanyahu’s barbaric proposals would be the forced removal of a population and a plan to ethnically cleanse Gaza."
“Palestinians do not need more displacement. They need a free homeland,” he added.
Another Labour MP, Kim Johnson, described Netanyahu's remarks as "absurd and insulting.”
"The future of Palestine must be determined by the Palestinian people, not dictated by external powers,” Johnson said.
"The foreign secretary must object to Netanyahu's proposal in the very strongest terms,” she said.
Riyadh has yet to react to Netanyhau’s remarks, which followed US President Donald Trump’s controversial suggestion to take over Gaza— possibly with the help of American troops— to create a "Riviera of the Middle East."
Trump earlier suggested that the more than two million Palestinians living in the narrow coastal territory could be resettled elsewhere.
Saudi Arabia, which engaged in talks on the normalization of ties with Israel via the United States, paused the negotiations when the regime launched its brutal war on Gaza in October 2023.
In reaction to Trump’s remarks, the Saudi Foreign Ministry said in a post on X that "Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has affirmed the kingdom's position in 'a clear and explicit manner' that does not allow for any interpretation under any circumstances."
In the same statement, Riyadh rejected Netanyahu's comment that normalization was "going to happen," repeating their stance that there would be no ties without a Palestinian state.
Iranian Army's Ground Force receives modern surveillance systems
The commander of the Iranian Army's Ground Force says the military unit has received modern information technologies to strengthen its operational capabilities at the country’s borders.
Brigadier General Kioumars Heidari made the remarks during an unveiling ceremony in the Iranian capital Tehran on Saturday, with other high-ranking officers from the Army and the General Staff of the Armed Forces in attendance. 
“The deployment of the latest intelligence achievements and cutting-edge technology by the Ground Force of the Army aims to ensure the sustainable security of the country’s borders and to bring peace and reassurance,” Heidari said.
He went on to say that the newly deployed systems offer a range of capabilities, including surveillance, monitoring, reconnaissance, aerial intelligence gathering, and electronic warfare.
The high-ranking commander also noted that the new cutting-edge surveillance systems have been deployed by the Army to meet the operational needs of its ground forces.
Heidari further stressed that it is important for the Army Ground Forces to benefit from the latest intelligence achievements and cutting-edge technology so that information can be collected, reflected, and shared with operational units promptly.
He concluded by saying that the unveiled and integrated information equipment will be used in the process of blocking the eastern border of the country, emphasizing that the integration of these tools will bring better quality both in terms of monitoring and guarding the borders, and they should be used as an inseparable part of the process of completing the border wall.
A rise in drug trafficking terrorism in recent years has forced Iran to move towards sealing off its borders. The country has currently prioritized sealing its borders with Pakistan and Afghanistan.
Sealing Iran's border with Pakistan is crucial for addressing security challenges in the Sistan and Baluchestan province, which has faced numerous attacks on civilians and security forces in the past years.
Iran’s security forces have protected the border and managed to repel almost all assaults by foreign-backed terrorists.
