Freed but Exiled: Palestinian Prisoners Held Under Watch in Egypt
Exiled After Prisoner Swap
CAIRO — After gaining freedom through a hostage exchange deal, 154 Palestinian ex-prisoners are now exiled in Egypt instead of returning home. Egyptian authorities placed them in a hotel under strict surveillance.
Israeli military courts had sentenced them to life imprisonment for murder, militant activity, and other violent acts. When a ceasefire began in Gaza earlier this month, Israeli officials transferred them to Egypt.
Life in Confinement Abroad
In Egypt, the men live under close monitoring. They cannot leave the hotel without approval.
Murad Abu al-Rub, 45, who spent 20 years in prison for murder and belonging to a banned group, described his new reality as “freedom without family.”
“We lived away from our families for two decades,” he said. “Now, even after release, I still cannot see my mother or siblings.”
Ceasefire and Prisoner Exchange
Since the US-brokered ceasefire on October 10, Hamas has freed 20 Israeli hostages in exchange for nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners. Most of them returned to Gaza and the West Bank, but those serving life sentences were sent to Egypt.
Egypt, which has diplomatic ties with Israel, mediated the exchange.
Criticism of Israeli Military Trials
Human rights groups have criticised Israel’s military courts for denying Palestinians fair trials.
Kamil Abu Hanish, who spent 22 years in prison for murder and membership in the PFLP, recalled the relief of release. “It felt like moving from a world of chains to one of open air,” he said.
He also described the last hours of custody as brutal. “They tied us together with ropes, blindfolded us, and forced us to kneel,” he added.
Awaiting Resettlement
According to Hasan Abd Rabbo from the Palestinian Prisoners’ Club, the men remain in Egypt while Qatar covers their expenses. Talks are ongoing about resettlement plans.
Possible destinations include Qatar, Turkey, Pakistan, and Malaysia.
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