Introduction to Deportation
In October, Israel released approximately 2,000 Palestinian prisoners. This action coincided with Hamas releasing its final group of Israeli hostages.
Most released individuals were detained in Gaza on suspicion of involvement in hostilities during the conflict, held without formal charges, and returned to Gaza.
However, 250 of these prisoners were serving lengthy sentences for attacks resulting in fatalities against Israelis.
Among these, 154 prisoners were deported to Cairo with the condition of not returning to their homes in the Palestinian territories. Their ultimate destination remains undisclosed.
Israeli security analysts state that this deportation policy aims to prevent released individuals from resuming militant activities and posing future threats to Israelis.
However, historical instances indicate that the policy of deporting Palestinian prisoners internationally has been associated with some individuals subsequently engaging in militant activity.
Past Cases of Released Prisoners
According to Israel's Shin Bet domestic intelligence agency, two prisoners released in a 2011 prisoner-hostage exchange between Israel and Hamas later assumed leadership roles within Hamas.
Zaher Jabarin, deported to Turkey, was reported by Shin Bet to have overseen Hamas' financial operations.
Yahya Sinwar, identified by Shin Bet as the Hamas leader in Gaza, is attributed with orchestrating the October 7, 2023, attack on Israel, which resulted in 1,144 Israeli deaths, according to Israeli government figures, and initiated the Gaza war.
Saleh al-Arouri, a founding commander of Hamas' military wing, was released from Israeli prison and deported in 2010. He subsequently resided in Syria, Turkey, Lebanon, and Qatar. He is widely cited as instrumental in developing Hamas' West Bank militant networks and assisting in the planning of the October 7 attack.
High-Profile Prisoners Deported in October
The group of prisoners deported in October includes individuals convicted for notable attacks against Israelis.
Mahmoud Issa, who established a Hamas unit decades ago, was convicted in 1993 for the abduction and killing of an Israeli police officer. His unit was involved in abducting Israeli soldiers, aiming to secure the release of Palestinian prisoners.
Imad Qawasmeh, a Hamas operative, was incarcerated for over 20 years in connection with two suicide bombings in Beersheba in 2004, which resulted in 16 Israeli deaths. He was also deported in the recent exchange.
Perspectives on Deportation Policy
Some Israeli security analysts argue that deporting high-risk prisoners abroad is preferable to their return to Palestinian territories, suggesting it reduces their capacity to resume operational roles in militant groups like Hamas.
Kobi Michaeli, an Israeli security expert, stated that deportation can diminish the influence these individuals might have on Palestinian communities in the West Bank, East Jerusalem, and Gaza, potentially reducing inspiration for further conflict.
Palestinian human rights advocates criticize the deportations, characterizing them as forcible displacement. Prisoners agreed to these terms while incarcerated.
Israeli analysts maintain that prisoners were given the choice between continued incarceration or release combined with deportation.
Qadura Fares, a Palestinian prisoner advocate, reported that Israeli authorities largely prohibited close relatives of deported prisoners from traveling abroad to meet them, citing security reasons. Fares, who was himself imprisoned by Israel and released in 1994, argued that prisoners adapt and live normal lives in familiar environments, contrasting with Israel's belief that distance inhibits influence.
In contrast, a report by the Knesset Research and Information Center, citing Shin Bet figures, indicates that approximately 75% of Palestinian prisoners released in the 2011 prisoner-hostage deal resumed militant activities.
Michaeli commented that living in places like Doha or Istanbul under Qatari or Turkish hospitality would not constitute punishment for these individuals.
International Context and Surveillance
Michaeli suggested that if released prisoners reside in cities like Doha, Istanbul, or Ankara, they could be in "safe zones" where they might operate more freely within groups like Hamas. He noted that Israel might not target them under current circumstances.
An Israeli action regarding Hamas leaders in Qatar in September reportedly angered the U.S., which analyst Michael Milshtein described as a "lesson for Israel" regarding the limitations of assassinations abroad.
Yoni Ben Menachem, an Israeli analyst, posited that the extensive release of high-profile prisoners will necessitate significant ongoing surveillance by Israeli intelligence agencies to prevent future attacks, even if Israel were to pursue these individuals abroad.
The Palestinian Embassy in Cairo confirmed that the 154 deported prisoners were initially accommodated at the Renaissance Cairo Mirage City Hotel. Following media reports, they were relocated to another hotel in Ain Sokhna, along the Gulf of Suez.
Israel and Egypt have not publicly disclosed the prisoners' ultimate destination.