Mahmoud Arda, mastermind of Gilboa prison break, freed in prisoner exchange
Mahmoud Arda, the Palestinian prisoner who led the 2021 “Great Escape” from 'Israel’s' high-security Gilboa Prison, has finally regained his freedom Monday as part of a large-scale prisoner exchange between Hamas and 'Israel'.
The release is part of the first phase of a ceasefire agreement that came into effect last Friday.
Arda, 50, a senior leader of the Islamic Jihad Movement, was hailed at the time as the “commander of the liberation operation” for orchestrating the daring escape alongside five fellow prisoners from Jenin: Ayham Kammaji, Muhammad Arda, Yaqub Qadri, Zakaria Zubeidi, and Munadil Anfiat. The six prisoners tunneled out of Gilboa Prison in September 2021 but were recaptured days later following a massive manhunt that drew global attention.
Early Life and Imprisonment
Born into a poor Palestinian family on the outskirts of Arraba, near Jenin, Arda was first arrested in 1991 at the age of 14 for throwing Molotov cocktails at 'Israeli' forces.
He was released after three and a half years but soon resumed resistance activities, including armed operations against 'Israel', one of which resulted in the death of an 'Israeli' settler. In 1996, he was sentenced to life imprisonment.
Prominent Prison Leadership
During his years in prison, Arda became one of the most prominent figures among Palestinian prisoners, serving in leadership roles within the Islamic Jihad’s high command for prisoners and as deputy secretary general of the organization’s prisoner leadership body.
He spent years in solitary confinement and invested his time in study, memorizing the Quran, authoring several books, and gaining a reputation as both educated and athletic, with strong relations across different prisoner factions. Some of his works include Fiqh al-Jihad and The Influence of Sheikh al-Ghazali on the Islamic Jihad Movement in Palestine, with additional manuscripts yet to be published.
Prisoner Exchange and Exile
Under the terms of the current prisoner exchange, Arda was transferred to Egypt along with 154 other Palestinian detainees, in line with a decision stipulating their exile outside the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem.
In total, 250 Palestinian detainees were released, including those serving long and life sentences, alongside 1,718 detainees from Gaza arrested by 'Israeli' forces during the recent conflict. Mass crowds across the West Bank and Gaza welcomed the freed detainees, celebrating their release as a symbol of steadfastness and resistance.
'Israeli' Captives Released by Hamas
In return, Hamas’s military wing, the Qassam Brigades, released 20 'Israeli' captives who had been held for two years. Additional transfers are expected, including the release of 28 'Israeli' bodies currently held in Gaza.
Ceasefire Agreement Details
The ceasefire agreement, brokered in Sharm El-Sheikh with mediation from the United States, Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey, includes a phased 'Israeli' withdrawal, mutual prisoner releases, immediate humanitarian aid to Gaza, and disarmament of Hamas.
Negotiations for the second phase of the agreement are expected in the coming days, with Hamas insisting on a full end to hostilities, a complete 'Israeli' withdrawal, and retention of its weapons.
