Pakistan may receive Palestinian prisoners forced into exile by Israel

Pakistan is being considered as one of several countries that could offer resettlement to Palestinian prisoners currently exiled in Egypt, according to an AFP report.

Along with Pakistan, Qatar, Türkiye, and Malaysia have also been mentioned as possible destinations, according to Hasan Abd Rabbo, a representative of the Palestinian Prisoners’ Club.

The exile of these Palestinians followed a US-mediated ceasefire that came into effect on October 10. Under the terms of that truce, Hamas released 20 surviving Israeli hostages in exchange for nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners. 

While most of those freed returned to their homes in Gaza and the West Bank, a separate group of 154 individuals was transported to Egypt, where they were placed in a luxury hotel under strict movement restrictions. The men are not permitted to leave the premises without official authorisation.

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Egypt, which has diplomatic relations with Israel, played a central role in brokering the swap. Similar prisoner exchanges have taken place during earlier ceasefires, resulting in the release of thousands of Palestinians over the years.

The first batch of 150 exiled prisoners arrived in Egypt in January, and more than eight months later, they remain confined to the same hotel as their resettlement prospects remain unclear.

The prisoners now in Cairo had all received life sentences from Israeli military courts on charges including murder and association with resistance groups. However, United Nations experts have repeatedly condemned such convictions, describing them as part of a long-standing pattern of unfair trials against Palestinians living under occupation.

Human rights organizations have also been sharply critical of Israel’s military justice system, asserting that it operates as an instrument of occupation and fails to uphold the principles of due process and fair trial.

According to data from the Palestinian Authority, roughly 11,000 Palestinians are still being held in Israeli prisons on charges related to the ongoing conflict.

Abd Rabbo said that while talks on possible relocation to countries such as Pakistan are still underway, the men continue to reside in the Egyptian hotel, with their accommodation costs currently being covered by Qatar.