Families of Palestinian prisoners released by Israel as part of a prisoner exchange deal say their long-awaited relief has turned to anguish after learning that many of those freed will be deported to third countries rather than returning home.

According to the Palestinian Prisoners’ Media Office, 154 Palestinians freed on Monday under the agreement will be forcibly exiled, in what observers are calling a violation of international law and an act of “inhumanity.”

The release is part of a broader swap deal under which 250 Palestinian detainees held in Israeli prisons — along with roughly 1,700 Palestinians detained in Gaza during Israel’s two-year war — are being exchanged for 20 Israeli captives freed by Hamas under the terms of a Gaza ceasefire.

The United Nations has previously said that many of the Palestinians held during the conflict were “forcibly disappeared,” raising concerns about Israel’s detention practices.

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Deportation to Unknown Destinations

Israel has not disclosed where the deported prisoners will be sent. In a similar deal earlier this year, dozens of Palestinians were relocated to countries including Tunisia, Algeria, and Türkiye.

Critics say the forced exile strips Palestinians of their fundamental rights.

“It goes without saying it’s illegal,” said Tamer Qarmout, associate professor of public policy at the Doha Institute for Graduate Studies.
“These are citizens of Palestine. They have no other nationality. They’re out of a small prison, but sent to a bigger one — isolated from their families and community. It’s inhumane.”

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Families Shocked and Heartbroken

In Ramallah, relatives of released prisoner Muhammad Imran said they were blindsided by the news that he would not be returning home.

“We were told by Israeli intelligence that he would be freed and asked where he would stay,” said his brother, Raed Imran.
“Today’s news was a shock. Maybe we’ll see him again somehow, but it’s devastating.”

Muhammad, 43, was arrested in December 2022 and sentenced to 13 life terms before being included in Monday’s exchange.

The deportation means his family may never be able to visit him — as Israel controls all Palestinian border crossings, often denying exit permits to relatives of former prisoners.

“We might be looking at families who will see their loved ones exiled abroad but have no way of meeting them,” said Al Jazeera’s Nida Ibrahim, reporting from the occupied West Bank.

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Analysts: ‘A Win-Win for Israel’

Analysts argue that Israel’s decision to deport prisoners is politically calculated — designed to prevent any symbolic victory for Hamas or other Palestinian factions while neutralizing potential opposition figures.

“Exile means the end of their political future,” Qarmout said. “They will live under restrictions abroad and be unable to participate in any political activities related to the conflict.”

He described the deportations as collective punishment, punishing both the released prisoners and their families.

“It’s a win-win for Israel,” he added. “The Israelis get their captives back, while Palestinians are separated from their homeland. It’s another example of double standards and hypocrisy.”