The Flood of the Free: The March to Liberation

By Samidoun – Jan 19, 2025

Please note: All names and numbers below are subject to further clarification as official statements are released by the Palestinian Resistance and the Prisoners’ Media Office, the only authoritative source of information on the releasees of the Flood of the Free.

This morning, Sunday, 19 January, as the sun rises in Gaza, as the people of the north return home without anyone searching or interrogating them, in preparation for a greater march home to all of occupied Palestine and their original homes and lands, as Jabalia and Nuseirat camps are filled with its people and families, from the heroic resistance fighters that made the camp a death trap for the genocidal enemy until its last moment, as the doctors, nurses and health workers reopen the hospitals, as the Palestinian police, interior ministry and civil defense — so heavily targeted by the occupier — fan out throughout Gaza, as the Qassam Brigades march in public, welcomed by the people, throughout Gaza; Palestinian prisoners inside the occupation jails are awaiting their liberation in the exchange agreement, Toufan al-Ahrar, the Flood of the Free — liberated by the Palestinian resistance and the great sacrifices of Gaza, accompanied by those throughout Palestine, of Lebanon, Yemen, Iran and Iraq.

The Zionist entity attempted to undermine the ceasefire, outraged by the Palestinian exultation of the achievements of the resistance and their own clear defeat, in the earliest moments, taking another 10 martyrs, claiming that the Resistance had not turned over the list of three prisoners held by the resistance to be released today (despite the fact that such lists were not part of the agreement). However, the people continued their return. In the words of Palestinian writer Ali Abunimah, “Enemy is still bombing, shelling in Gaza, but people are still celebrating and streaming home, civil authorities getting back to work and the mayor of Rafah held a press conference. This too is defiance and resistance. People aren’t going to let the enemy spoil their ceasefire.”

These names were then publicly announced by the spokesperson of the Izz el-Din al-Qassam Brigades, Abu Obeida, as the Palestinian people and the world await the list of names of the Palestinian detainees held in the dungeons of the occupier who will be liberated today by the Resistance.

The occupation has released an overall list of names of the prisoners to be liberated within the first stage of the agreement, a process that will take place over 42 days. The occupation does not release these lists in order to provide information to or facilitate the preparation of Palestinians; rather, it is a requirement of internal occupation law to allow Zionists to object to the liberation of these captives.

This list and even the full group of prisoners to be freed in the first stage is not the entire reach of the Flood of the Free; especially as many of the leadership prisoners and those with high sentences are expected to be demanded to be released in the second stage of the exchange, in return for high-ranking Zionist captives held by the resistance.

The names on the list published by the occupation are exciting and inspiring, including so many of the great leaders of the Palestinian liberation struggle; three of the heroes of the Freedom Tunnel; Nael Barghouthi, the longest-held Palestinian prisoner; Mohammed Abu Warda, with 45 life sentences; Khalida Jarrar, the leading Palestinian academic and leftist; Ammar al-Zaben, the first Palestinian prisoner to conceive a child through “smuggled sperm;” Dirar al-Sisi, the Palestinian engineer kidnapped from Ukraine in 2011; Hadeel Shatara, the Palestinian educator and activist; Iyad Jaradat, who endured years in solitary confinement; Wael Jaghoub, the Palestinian leader and writer behind bars; Bushra al-Taweel, the tireless chronicler of the Palestinian prisoners’ cause; the ill strugglers like Moatassem Raddad and Mansour Muqtada; Abla Sa’adat, the wife of Ahmad Sa’adat — and so many more.

However, we also know that the exchange will be completed in stages and throughout the 42 days, and that the Resistance — the great Resistance that achieved their liberation — is the only trustworthy source of information, and will be coordinating the release of the lists of names of prisoners to be exchanged each day of the releases.

We are committed to provide immediate translations and information as soon as they are available on an ongoing basis.

1,737 male and female prisoners will be released from Israeli occupation prisons by the Resistance as part of the FIRST PHASE ONLY of the Flood of the Free.

We urge everyone, around the world, to join with the Palestinian people in Gaza and everywhere, to celebrate the achievements of the Resistance and the humiliation of the occupier, and to celebrate and welcome each liberated prisoner as the heroes of our global movement that they are, in public events, with posters and public education, with actions and events exposing Zionism and imperialism everywhere.

The Week of Action to Free Ahmad Sa’adat and all Palestinian Prisoners is continuing amid the Flood of the Free — this is an excellent opportunity to highlight the prisoners with lengthy sentences and support the resistance’s demand for their liberation, while celebrating the exceptional accomplishments of the Flood of the Free on a daily basis.

We urge all supporters of Palestine and Palestinian and Arab communities to receive and honour the prisoners virtually and symbolically — and pledge to continue the movement until all of them are free, and all of Palestine is free, from the river to the sea.