According to a report by Agence France-Presse (AFP), after a U.S.-brokered ceasefire agreement, Hamas released around 20 Israeli hostages in exchange for nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners. However, 154 of those Palestinians were exiled to Egypt, where they are currently confined to a five-star hotel under strict security. Authorities have not allowed them to leave the premises without permission.
The report adds that while Egypt had agreed in January to temporarily host 150 of these prisoners, eight months later their future remains uncertain.
Those held in Cairo include individuals who had been sentenced to life imprisonment by Israeli military courts on charges of murder and affiliation with resistance groups, verdicts that the United Nations and human rights organizations have long criticized as unjust and reflective of Israel’s occupation policies.
Despite their physical release, the former detainees continue to face severe restrictions. They are not allowed to work, travel freely, or establish legal residency. The Egyptian government has yet to clarify their legal status, leaving them in a state of limbo.
“No Arab country seems willing to accept us,” said 45-year-old Murad Abu Rab, who was accused of killing four Israeli soldiers in 2006. “We came here hoping to reunite with our families after 20 years—but we’re still living like prisoners. When I was arrested, my sister was 15. When I finally saw her on a video call, I barely recognized her.”
Another former inmate, who spent 22 years in Israeli prisons, described the moments leading up to his release as the most agonizing of all.
“They tied us with ropes, forced us face down on the ground, blindfolded us. Every second was filled with fear,” he recalled.
Similarly, 50-year-old Mahmoud al-Arda, one of the most well-known Palestinian prisoners, said the final two years of his detention were the darkest of his life. “We faced daily beatings, insults, and humiliation,” he said.
According to the Palestinian Authority, nearly 11,000 Palestinians remain imprisoned by Israel. Officials have confirmed that discussions are ongoing with several nations—Qatar, Türkiye, Malaysia, and Pakistan—regarding the possible resettlement of those exiled to Egypt.
For now, these exiled prisoners remain stranded in Cairo, their costs covered by Qatar, waiting for clarity on whether any nation will finally offer them a place to call home.
