Hamas Raises Defiant Banner Ahead of Fifth Prisoner Exchange with Israel

February 8, 2025

By The South Asia Times

GAZA - The Palestinian group Hamas on Saturday raised a large banner at the designated platform for handing over Israeli captives, sending a strong message in defiance of Israeli threats to eliminate the group from Gaza.

In Deir al-Balah, central Gaza, the Al-Qassam Brigades displayed a banner reading, "We are the flood... we are the next day," written in Arabic, Hebrew, and English. The banner was accompanied by an image of the Palestinian flag and a clenched fist, according to Anadolu Agency.

The phrase "we are the next day" appears to be a response to reports in Israeli media suggesting that Israel may consider allowing some or all Hamas leaders to leave Gaza for another country. However, Hamas is expected to reject any such proposal, having resisted Israel’s military offensive on Gaza for more than 15 months.

The move also comes amid statements by US President Donald Trump regarding a proposal to relocate Palestinians from Gaza to Egypt, Jordan, and other parts of the world, as well as discussions about the future governance of the territory.

According to an Anadolu correspondent, hundreds of Al-Qassam Brigades fighters participated in the prisoner handover ceremony at the site in Deir al-Balah.

As part of the fifth phase of the prisoner exchange deal, Hamas is set to release three Israeli captives in exchange for 183 Palestinian detainees from Israeli prisons. Among them, 18 are serving life sentences, while 54 are serving high-term sentences.

The ceasefire agreement, which took effect in Gaza on Jan. 19, halted Israel’s military campaign, which has killed more than 47,500 Palestinians—most of them women and children—and devastated the enclave.

In November, the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, accusing them of war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.

Israel is also facing a genocide case at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) over its actions in the enclave.