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KARACHI: Pakistan has agreed to host 15 Palestinian prisoners freed under a ceasefire deal that was reached between Israel and Hamas on Jan. 15 to end the Gaza war, a Hamas spokesperson said on Monday, describing Pakistan as an “elder brother.”
A six-week initial ceasefire phase, which ended 15 months of war, includes the gradual withdrawal of Israeli forces from central Gaza and the return of displaced Palestinians to northern Gaza.
Among key components of the deal is that Hamas will release 33 Israeli hostages, including all women (soldiers and civilians), children, and men over 50. In exchange, Israel will release 30 Palestinian detainees for every civilian hostage and 50 Palestinian detainees for every Israeli female soldier Hamas releases.
Dr. Khaled Qaddoumi, a spokesperson of Hamas, told Arab News Israel has so far released nearly 180 Palestinians and some of them have traveled to Egypt to settle there, while several Muslim countries, including Egypt, Turkiye, Algeria, Malaysia, Pakistan and Indonesia, have expressed their willingness to host these prisoners. 
“We have officially received confirmation that Pakistan has agreed to receive 15 prisoners. For this, we are deeply grateful to the Pakistani government, the Pakistani people, and the Pakistani establishment,” Dr. Qaddoumi told Arab News.
“Alhamdulillah, it has been proven that Pakistan is not just a brother but an elder brother, with a spiritual connection that has always stood with Al-Quds.”
Pakistan has not yet officially commented about hosting Palestinian prisoners freed by Israel.
The development came after Quds Press, a Palestinian news agency considered close to Hamas, reported that 99 Palestinian prisoners freed by Israel had been deported to Egypt, with 263 expected to be freed by the completion of the first phase of the release process.
It came in the backdrop of negotiations on an agreement for the second phase of the deal, which will see the release of remaining Israeli hostages and the complete withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza. Palestinian territory – encompassing the Gaza Strip and West Bank, including East Jerusalem – has been occupied by Israel since 1967.
Pakistan does not recognize nor have diplomatic relations with Israel and calls for an independent Palestinian state based on “internationally agreed parameters.”
Since the beginning of Israel’s war on Gaza on Oct. 7, 2023, the South Asian country has dispatched several relief consignments for Gaza, besides establishing the ‘Prime Minister’s Relief Fund’ that aims to collect public donations for the war-affected people.
“Just as this nation, its people, and this country [Pakistan] have always expressed solidarity with Palestine and remained committed to their promises, Alhamdulillah, they continue to uphold them,” Dr. Qaddoumi said.
“Thank you to the Pakistani people, Pakistan’s leadership, and the country itself.”
The war on Gaza began after about 1,200 Israelis were killed and 251 taken to Gaza as hostages when Hamas attacked Israel in Oct. 2023. The attack triggered a massive Israeli military offensive in Gaza, which has killed more than 47,000 Palestinians, the Hamas-run health ministry says.
The war has also led to widespread destruction in the densely populated territory, where thousands of schools, houses and hospitals have been destroyed by relentless Israeli bombardment.