The spokesman for the Al-Qassam Brigades, Abu Ubaida, announced in a recorded statement that "the Israeli occupation is trying to cover up its disastrous failure, and it did not expect that an Arab force besieged in Gaza would deal it the harshest blow in its history." Abu Ubaida revealed the number of prisoners held by the Al-Qassam Brigades, stating that they possess about 200 prisoners from the occupation's soldiers and settlers, while the remaining 50 are distributed among other factions. He pointed out that "the last prisoner killed by their bombing was the artist Guy Olives." He continued: "We will release foreign prisoners when the battlefield conditions allow."
An Israeli reporter asked a settler who was captured by Hamas and then released, “Were you assaulted by the resistance?” The settler responded: “No, they treated us with utmost humanity.” The reporter, surprised, replied: “Humanity?!” The settler said: “Yes, they tried to calm us down and gave us water to relieve our stress. Then after they released me, I saw the soldiers…”
Abu Ubaida indicated that "22 prisoners held by Al-Qassam, from soldiers and settlers, were killed by the occupation's bombing of Gaza," concluding with, "We are determined to bring joy to every home of our Palestinian people regarding the prisoners file."
