GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip — The Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, Hamas' military wing, has pledged not to conclude any new prisoner swap deal with Israel that does not include the six prisoners who escaped from Gilboa Prison on Sept. 6. Al-Qassam spokesperson Abu Obeida said, “The leadership of al-Qassam decided that no swap deal will be made unless it involves freeing these heroes” in an announcement broadcast by Hamas-affiliated Al-Aqsa TV on Sept. 11, following the capture of four of the escapees. The remaining two were later caught Sept. 19.

Hamas claims it is holding two Israeli soldiers captured during the 2014 Gaza war in addition to two other Israeli citizens who entered the coastal enclave. Israel maintains that the two soldiers were killed in action and is seeking the return of their remains.

On Sept. 6, inmates Mahmoud Ardah, Yaqoub Qadri, Mohamad Ardah, Ayham Kamamji and Munadil Nfeat of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad and Zakaria Zubeidi of Fatah’s armed wing, broke out of the high-security Gilboa Prison in Beit Shea in an operation that has come to be known among Palestinians as “the Freedom Tunnel.”

Following their capture, Abu Obeida said in his televised speech, “The Freedom Tunnel heroes freed themselves [by going] underground this time. We promise them and our other prisoners that they will be liberated soon, God willing, from above ground.”