News- Middle East: Families of many Palestinian prisoners being released by Israel under an exchange agreement say their long-anticipated freedom is tinged with sadness after learning that their loved ones will be sent into exile.

According to the Palestinian Prisoners’ Media Office, at least 154 Palestinian prisoners who are set to be freed on Monday as part of the swap for Israeli captives held in Gaza will be compelled to live in exile by the occupying regime.

Those facing deportation are included in a larger assembly of Palestinians being released by Israel – 250 individuals incarcerated in Israeli prisons together with around 1,700 Palestinians taken from the Gaza Strip over the course of two years of Israel’s genocidal campaign, many of whom were reported as having been “forcibly disappeared,” as stated by the United Nations.

In accordance with the ceasefire agreement in Gaza, Hamas and various Palestinian factions have freed 20 living Israeli captives.

Currently, there is no information available regarding the destinations for the released Palestinians. However, during a previous prisoner release in January, dozens of detainees were sent to various countries in the region, such as Tunisia, Algeria, and Turkey.

Observers have stated that the forced exile constitutes a blatant violation of the citizenship rights of the freed prisoners and exemplifies the double standards associated with the exchange agreements.

“It goes without saying it’s illegal,” Tamer Qarmout, associate professor in public policy at the Doha Institute for Graduate Studies, told Al Jazeera television news network.

He added, “It is illegal because these are citizens of Palestine. They have no other citizenship. They’re out of a small prison, but they’re sent to a bigger prison, away from their society, to new countries in which they will face major restrictions. It’s inhumane.”

Family members of Palestinian detainee Muhammad Imran expressed their astonishment upon discovering that he was one of those whom Israel had chosen to force into exile.

Raed Imran stated that the family had earlier received a call from an Israeli intelligence officer, who confirmed that his 43-year-old brother would be released and inquired about his accommodation upon release.

However, on Monday, the family was distressed to discover that Muhammad, who had been apprehended in December 2022 and received a sentence of 13 life terms, would be deported.

“Today’s news was a shock, but we are still waiting. Maybe we’ll get to see him somehow,” Imran said. “What matters is that he is released, here or abroad.”

Source: Press TV