Pakistan to host Palestinian prisoners freed by Israel, claims Hamas

Pakistan has agreed to host 15 Palestinian prisoners freed under a ceasefire deal that was reached between Israel and Hamas on January 15 to end the Gaza war, Arab News quoted a Hamas spokesperson as saying on Monday. 

The Hamas spokesperson described Pakistan as an “elder brother”. 

Hamas spokesperson Dr Khaled Qaddoumi said that Israel has so far released nearly 180 Palestinians and some of them have traveled to Egypt to settle there, while several Muslim countries, including Egypt, Turkiye, Algeria, Malaysia, Pakistan and Indonesia, have expressed their willingness to host these prisoners. 

“We have officially received confirmation that Pakistan has agreed to receive 15 prisoners. For this, we are deeply grateful to the Pakistani government, the Pakistani people, and the Pakistani establishment,” Dr Qaddoumi said.

“Alhamdulillah, it has been proven that Pakistan is not just a brother but an elder brother, with a spiritual connection that has always stood with Al-Quds.”

Pakistan has not yet officially commented about hosting Palestinian prisoners freed by Israel.

The development came after Quds Press, a Palestinian news agency considered close to Hamas, reported that 99 Palestinian prisoners freed by Israel had been deported to Egypt, with 263 expected to be freed by the completion of the first phase of the release process.

“Just as this nation, its people, and this country [Pakistan] have always expressed solidarity with Palestine and remained committed to their promises, Alhamdulillah, they continue to uphold them,” Dr Qaddoumi said.

“Thank you to the Pakistani people, Pakistan’s leadership, and the country itself.”

The war on Gaza began after about 1,200 Israelis were killed and 251 taken to Gaza as hostages when Hamas attacked Israel in Oct. 2023. The attack triggered a massive Israeli military offensive in Gaza, which has killed more than 47,000 Palestinians, the Hamas-run health ministry says.