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Following a recent hostage swap, 154 Palestinian ex-prisoners were freed by Israel but, rather than returning home, were sent to Egypt, where they remain confined to a hotel under strict surveillance.
All of the men had been sentenced to life in Israeli military courts for murder, membership in banned Palestinian militant groups, and other violent acts.
When a ceasefire took effect in Gaza earlier this month, the group was transported to Egypt and placed in a five-star hotel they cannot leave without permission.
Murad Abu al-Rub, 45, who spent 20 years in prison for murder and involvement with a banned Palestinian organisation, told AFP that he remains separated from his family in Jenin.
“Nothing has changed. I still can’t see my mother or siblings,” he said during a video call from the hotel.
Since the US-brokered ceasefire on October 10, 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 with life sentences were largely exiled to Egypt, which played a key mediation role due to its formal ties with Israel.
In Egypt, the men have no freedom of movement, no work permits, and no clarity on their future. Abu al-Rub said, “No Arab country wanted to take us in.”
Many spend hours on the phone talking to relatives, often meeting family members they barely recognise after years in prison.
Kamil Abu Hanish, imprisoned for 22 years for murder and membership in the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), described the relief of release but recalled harsh final hours in Israeli custody, including being tied, blindfolded, and forced to lie face down.
Before October 7, prisoners had limited recreational and educational activities, such as sports and discussion groups, but these were restricted following Hamas’s attack. In the final period, belongings were confiscated, and inmates were left with minimal provisions.
Rights organisations have documented mistreatment, though Israel denies violations, asserting its prison system complies with the law. Nearly 11,000 Palestinians remain in Israeli custody.
Egypt received the first group of 150 prisoners in January, and most remain in the same hotel eight months later, with Qatar covering accommodation costs.
Discussions continue over potential resettlement to countries including Qatar, Turkey, Pakistan, and Malaysia.
