Released Hamas prisoners to be sent to Muslim countries, including Pakistan; Indonesia refuses
Pakistan has agreed to host Palestinian prisoners released under the January 15 ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas, according to the Quds Press agency, a news outlet considered close to Hamas. Pakistan joins Turkey, Qatar, and Malaysia as countries that have agreed to accept these prisoners.
Hamas is currently negotiating with several other countries to accommodate the remaining freed prisoners. Algeria and Indonesia are reportedly under consideration, while Tunisia has declined.
Ninety-nine Palestinian prisoners have already been transferred to Egypt, with a further 263 expected to be released in the first phase of the prisoner exchange. Fifteen are expected to arrive in Turkey on Tuesday.
This development comes as negotiations for the second phase of the ceasefire agreement are set to begin on February 4th. This phase will involve the release of the remaining Israeli hostages and the complete withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza.
The initial six-week ceasefire, which ended 15 months of conflict, includes the gradual withdrawal of Israeli forces from central Gaza and the return of displaced Palestinians to northern Gaza. The prisoner exchange is a key component of the agreement.
The conflict began on October 7, 2023, with a Hamas attack on Israel that resulted in the deaths of approximately 1,200 Israelis and the capture of 251 hostages. The subsequent Israeli military response in Gaza has reportedly killed over 47,000 Palestinians, according to the Hamas-run health ministry, and caused widespread destruction.
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