Al-Qassam Website - Today marks the 17th anniversary of the capture of Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit by the Palestinian resistance faction of Al-Qassam Brigades jointly with the Army of Islam and Al-Nasser Salah al-Deen Brigades. This operation, known as "Dispelled Illusion," was a turning point in the history of the Palestinian resistance against the Israeli occupation of Palestine.

The operation, which aimed to dispel the belief in the invincibility of the Israeli occupation army, stands as one of the most successful commando operations in the history of Palestinian resistance on all fronts. On June 25, 2006, at 5:13 A.M., Palestinian resistance fighters crossed the perimeter fence east of the Gaza Strip, using a lengthy tunnel, before sunrise. They targeted Shalit's tank, a watchtower, and an armoured personnel carrier.

In the first group's attack, a "Mirkafa" tank involved in protection and support duties was destroyed, resulting in the death of two crew members and the injury of another. Additionally, a Zionist soldier from the tank was captured when a fighter threw grenades into the tank's turret. The second group destroyed a troop carrier and neutralised its entire crew. However, the Israeli occupation authorities attempted to downplay their losses claiming that the "tanker" had been placed as a decoy. The third group partially destroyed the military intelligence site known as "The Red Tower" before engaging in clashes with the occupying soldiers stationed there. Two resistance fighters, Hamed Al-Rantissi and Muhammad Ferwana, were martyred during the heroic operation.

The Al-Qassam Brigades successfully kept Shalit hidden for over five years, despite the presence of Israeli occupation drones, warplanes, and surveillance blimps in the skies above the besieged Gaza Strip. The Israeli occupation forces (IOF) failed to locate Shalit's secret whereabouts and were compelled to engage in indirect negotiations to secure a prisoner swap deal. The Palestinian resistance set an example for negotiation tactics, eventually leading to Shalit's release, thereby confounding the Israeli occupation's security establishment.

On October 18, 2011, the Wafa al-Ahrar (Devotion of the Free) prisoner swap deal took place. This exchange of prisoners represented a series of significant victories in the psychological battle against the Israeli occupation and demonstrated the strength and unity of the Palestinian people. The agreement granted freedom to over 1040 Palestinian detainees, including women, bringing immense joy to their families and the entire Palestinian population.

The Palestinian resistance has secured a remarkable victory in a security battle and a conflict of minds since capturing the Israeli occupation soldier Gilad Shalit and holding him for more than five years. This agreement proved the Palestinian resistance's ability to restore Palestinian rights and force the Israeli occupation to cross what it described as red lines.