154 Palestinian prisoners exiled to Egypt under exchange deal
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154 freed Palestinian prisoners, including Mahmoud al-Ardah, arrive in Egypt as part of the Gaza ceasefire exchange deal with the Israeli occupation.
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Hamas fighters escort buses carrying freed Palestinian prisoners arriving in the Gaza Strip after their release from Israeli jails, in Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip, Monday, October 13, 2025 (AP)
The Prisoners’ Information Office announced Monday that 154 freed Palestinian detainees have arrived in Egypt under a prisoner exchange agreement, in line with a decision stipulating their transfer abroad. Among them is Mahmoud al-Arida, one of the leaders behind 2021's Operation Freedom Tunnel, in which six prisoners escaped from Gilboa Prison.
Under the terms of the exchange, 250 Palestinian prisoners were released today, including those serving long sentences and life sentences, in addition to 1,718 detainees from Gaza who were arrested by the Israeli occupation during the war.
Mass crowds gathered across the occupied West Bank and Gaza Strip to welcome the freed prisoners, celebrating their release as a symbol of steadfastness and resistance.
In return, the Palestinian resistance released 20 Israeli captives who were still alive. The process of transferring the remains of deceased captives will continue in the coming stages, according to the first phase of the ceasefire agreement.
Seven captives released thus far
Israeli media outlets reported that seven Israeli captives released by Hamas under the first phase of US President Donald Trump's ceasefire plan in the Gaza Strip have been handed over to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and are reportedly in good condition.
Earlier this morning, the Israeli occupation military stated that ICRC vehicles arrived at an agreed-upon location in the northern Gaza Strip to receive the released captives. This development comes after days of ongoing negotiations mediated by Egypt, Qatar, and the United States.
Moreover, Red Cross buses also headed to Gaza's Khan Younis to receive the second batch of Israeli captives.
The Israeli army confirmed its readiness to receive the additional captives, stating that more captives were expected to be transferred to the Red Cross later in the day.
According to Channel 13, the prisoner handover was scheduled to begin at 8 am in the Netzarim area, followed by another transfer at 10 am in Khan Younis. The process is being carried out under international supervision.
Palestinian detainees prepare for release
On the Palestinian side, buses departed from Gaza toward the Karem Abu Salem crossing in preparation for receiving the Palestinian detainees scheduled for release.
According to Al Mayadeen’s correspondent in Gaza, the families of the detainees have not yet been informed of the official list of those being freed or whether any will be deported. Meanwhile, the al-Qassam Brigades released the names of the living Israeli captives expected to be released.
Israeli media reported that buses carrying Palestinian detainees arrived at Ofer Prison early in the morning, and sources confirmed that final preparations have been completed for the release of more than 2,000 Palestinian detainees as part of the agreement’s first phase.
Shosh Bedrosian, spokesperson for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, stated that the government expects all 20 living captives to be released at once and handed over to the Red Cross simultaneously. On the fourth day of the ceasefire, Netanyahu described the return of the captives as a “historic event” marked by a mixture of "sadness and joy."
Israeli authorities also acknowledged that the bodies of some deceased captives may not be recovered. In such cases, an international body designated under Trump’s ceasefire plan is expected to assist in locating and retrieving the remains.
