After a recent hostage swap, 154 Palestinian ex-prisoners were released by Israel but, instead of returning home, were sent to Egypt, where they remain confined to a hotel under tight surveillance.
All had previously received life sentences in Israeli military courts for murder, membership in banned Palestinian militant groups, and other acts of violence. Following a ceasefire in Gaza earlier this month, the men were placed on buses to Egypt and lodged in a five-star hotel, which they cannot leave without official permission.
Murad Abu al-Rub, 45, who spent 20 years in prison for murder and involvement with a banned Palestinian organisation, said he is living in uncertainty, far from his family in Jenin. “Nothing has changed. I still can’t see my mother or siblings,” he told AFP during a video call from the hotel.
Since the US-brokered ceasefire on 10 October, Hamas has released all 20 surviving Israeli hostages in exchange for nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners, most of whom returned to Gaza and the West Bank. Those serving life sentences were mostly exiled to Egypt, which acted as a key mediator due to its formal ties with Israel.
In Egypt, the men have no freedom of movement, no work permits, and no clarity about their future. Abu al-Rub said, “No Arab country wanted to take us in.” Many spend long hours on the phone with relatives, often reconnecting with family members they barely recognise after decades in prison.
Kamil Abu Hanish, jailed for 22 years for murder and membership in the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), recalled the relief of release but described harsh final hours in custody, including being tied, blindfolded, and forced to lie face down.
Before 7 October, prisoners could attend educational sessions, play sports, and hold discussions. Following Hamas’s attack, these privileges were revoked, and personal belongings including clothing and bedding were confiscated.
Human rights organisations have documented similar claims of mistreatment, though Israel denies violations, maintaining that its prison system operates legally. Nearly 11,000 Palestinians remain in Israeli detention.
Egypt first received 150 prisoners in January, and most remain in the same hotel eight months later, with accommodation funded by Qatar. Talks are ongoing about potential resettlement to countries including Qatar, Turkey, Pakistan, and Malaysia.