Features|Israel-Palestine conflictWho are the Palestinian captives Israel released?Israel is releasing nearly 2,000 Palestinians, political prisoners and detainees. Here’s a look at who they are.
On Mon, Oct 13, 2025, a significant number of Palestinians assembled in Ramallah to witness the release of approximately 2,000 individuals, including political prisoners and those forcibly disappeared by Israeli forces. This event marks a part of a…
On Mon, Oct 13, 2025, a significant number of Palestinians assembled in Ramallah to witness the release of approximately 2,000 individuals, including political prisoners and those forcibly disappeared by Israeli forces. This event marks a part of a larger exchange involving the return of 96 political prisoners detained by Israel from Gaza.
This release is part of an agreement involving the exchange of 20 living and 28 deceased Israeli captives for nearly 2,000 Palestinian captives. Since the onset of recent conflicts on Oct 7, 2023, 114 Israeli captives have been released during two separate exchanges in Nov 2023 and Jan 2025, in exchange for the freedom of 1,240 Palestinians.
A total of 250 Palestinian political prisoners, serving life or long sentences, are set to be released from Israeli incarceration. Of these, 157 belong to the Fatah faction, while 65 are affiliated with Hamas, with the remainder from smaller political groups. Additionally, Israel will release 1,718 Palestinians reportedly forcefully disappeared over the past two years. This group includes five minors and two women.
Despite the release, a significant number of Palestinians remain detained. The number of captives held by Israel increased from 5,200 to 11,100 since Oct 7, 2023. Among these, 400 are children, predominantly from the West Bank.
On Mon, Oct 13, 2025, a significant number of Palestinians assembled in Ramallah to witness the release of approximately 2,000 individuals, including political prisoners and those forcibly disappeared by Israeli forces.
The practice of re-arresting Palestinians after their release has been noted, with instances of re-arrest occurring shortly after previous exchanges. This highlights ongoing concerns regarding the stability of release agreements.
While some individuals have returned to the West Bank and Gaza, approximately 154 are being deported to unspecified third countries. The complete retrieval of 28 deceased Israeli captives is pending, potentially affecting the finalization of all releases.
Families of released detainees face restrictions on public celebrations and potential travel limitations. High-profile figures, such as Marwan Barghouti and Ahmed Saadat, are not included in the current release list. Notably, renowned doctor Hussam Abu Safia remains detained.
A freed Palestinian prisoner after being released from an Israeli jail in Ramallah, the Israeli-occupied West Bank, October 13, 2025 [Mohammed Torokman/Reuters]
Based on reporting by Al Jazeera.
