This came in a joint statement by the three powers, coinciding with the start of the implementation of the first phase of the ceasefire agreement announced by US President Donald Trump on Thursday, following indirect negotiations in the Sharm el-Sheikh resort, in which Turkey, Qatar, Egypt, and the United States participated.
The factions explained that they had made "significant and strenuous efforts to secure the release of all female and male prisoners and leaders of the national prisoner movement, but the occupation, as usual, thwarted the release of a large and significant number of them." They added that despite this, they "decided to proceed with the implementation of the agreement in order to halt the war of extermination against the Palestinian people."
The three factions affirmed their commitment to the prisoners' cause, saying, "We pledge to our people and our prisoners that their cause will remain at the top of our national priorities, and we will never abandon them." They also congratulated "our people on the freedom of this blessed group of our prisoners and heroes."
The forces did not provide details or names of the prisoners scheduled to be released in the coming days.
Earlier on Friday, the Israeli Ministry of Justice published the names of 250 Palestinian prisoners serving life sentences who are expected to be released under the agreement. However, Hamas's Prisoners' Information Office denied the existence of an "official agreement on the lists."
The Israeli Ministry of Justice typically publishes lists of names to allow the public to petition the Supreme Court against the release, but the court often rejects such petitions.
The list does not include the leaders of the prisoners demanded by Hamas, most notably Marwan Barghouti, Ahmed Saadat, Abdullah Barghouti, Hassan Salameh, Abbas al-Sayed, and Ibrahim Hamed.
On Thursday, Trump announced that Israel and Hamas had reached an agreement on the first phase of his ceasefire and prisoner exchange plan, following four days of indirect negotiations in Sharm el-Sheikh. The agreement went into effect at 12:00 noon on Friday, Jerusalem time (9:00 GMT), after being approved by the Israeli government at dawn.
The agreement document, published by the official Israeli Broadcasting Authority, stipulates that Hamas will release living Israeli prisoners within 72 hours of Israel's ratification of the agreement. It will also hand over information it has on dead Israeli prisoners to a joint mechanism involving Qatar, Egypt, Turkey, and the International Committee of the Red Cross. In return, Israel will release 250 Palestinian prisoners serving life sentences and 1,700 prisoners detained in Gaza after the October 2023 war.
Mediators' efforts
The three factions appreciated the efforts of the mediators in Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey, as well as those who supported this process, calling for continued pressure to ensure the occupation's commitment to all provisions of the agreement without deviation.
She said, "The occupation's attempts to derail the negotiating process and disrupt the agreement, and Netanyahu's efforts to prolong the war and stifle any chance of halting the aggression, did not deter the Palestinian delegation from its goal of halting the war of extermination against our
She added, "The agreement represents a political and security failure of the occupation's plans and a defeat of its goals of imposing displacement and uprooting. It is a partial achievement that alleviates the suffering of our people and frees hundreds of our heroic female and male prisoners from the occupation's prisons. It reflects the steadfastness of the resistance and the unity of the national stance."
Perseverance and support
The factions praised the steadfastness of the Palestinian people in Gaza, who "faced the most horrific Zionist crimes with legendary steadfastness." They saluted the medical and rescue teams, civil defense personnel, and journalists "who persevered despite the bombing and starvation." They also commended the "heroism of the resistance, which stood tall amidst the rubble and inflicted heavy losses on the enemy." They emphasized that the occupation "failed to break the will of the people and the resistance despite two years of devastating war."
She also appreciated "the support of the support fronts in Yemen, Lebanon, Iran, and Iraq, and the global popular movement in solidarity with Palestine and Gaza," considering it "a clear message that the Palestinian cause is a global political and humanitarian issue."
Internal affairs
The three factions called for strengthening national unity and embarking on a "unified national political path in cooperation with generous Egyptian efforts." They also called for holding an urgent, comprehensive national meeting "to formulate the next step after the ceasefire, unify the Palestinian position, formulate a comprehensive national strategy, and rebuild our national institutions on the foundations of partnership, credibility, and transparency."
It also called for "strengthening social solidarity in Gaza, supporting those affected, ensuring the necessities of daily life, and activating cooperation between factions, society, and local and international institutions, to ensure unified steadfastness in the face of challenges and preserve the unity of our people."
The forces affirmed their rejection of any "foreign guardianship," emphasizing that "administration of the Gaza Strip is an internal Palestinian affair determined jointly by the national components of our people, while welcoming Arab and international participation in the areas of reconstruction, recovery, and development support, in a way that enhances a dignified life for our people and preserves their rights to their land."
The ceasefire agreement is based on a 20-point plan proposed by Trump, which calls for a cessation of hostilities, a gradual withdrawal of the Israeli occupation forces, a mutual release of prisoners, the immediate entry of aid into the Strip, and the disarmament of Hamas. The second phase addresses the issue of governing Gaza and restoring internal security.
Since October 8, 2023, the Israeli occupation army, with American support, has committed genocide in the Gaza Strip, killing 67,211 martyrs and wounding 169,961, most of them children and women. Famine has also resulted in the deaths of 460 Palestinians, including 154 children.
