Israel radio: Egypt refuses to receive 20 freed Palestinians

Israel’s Kan Reshet Bet radio yesterday reported that Egypt has refused to receive 20 Palestinians, some of whom were serving life sentences in Israeli jails before being released as part of the deal between the Israeli occupation government and Hamas. The Israeli public broadcaster’s radio station added that the prisoners have been waiting at the European Hospital in Khan Yunis, Gaza, since their release about a week ago.

The report indicated that the Palestinians were released as part of the third batch in the first phase of the ceasefire agreement, aligning with the release of Israeli captives Agam Berger, Arbel Yehud and Gadi Moshe Moses. The station noted: “They were initially intended to be relocated abroad.”

According to the agreement, Israel has so far deported around 100 Palestinians, with Egypt serving as a transit point under its role as mediator of the ceasefire agreement. However Cairo has said released Palestinians already on its territory must be relocated before others are received.

Kan Reshet Bet, citing unnamed sources familiar with the situation, reported that 15 Palestinians were transferred from Egypt to Turkiye this week.

Among those still in Gaza is Mohammed Abu Warda, who was serving 48 life sentences – the highest number of life terms among those released so far. Israel accused Abu Warda of involvement in Hamas-led operations in the 1990s, including two bus bombings on Jerusalem’s Route 18 in 1996, which killed 44 Israelis. The group also includes Sami Jaradat from Islamic Jihad, who Israel accuses of being one of the masterminds behind the Maxim restaurant attack in 2003, which resulted in the deaths of 21 Israelis.

Read: Freed Palestinian recounts ‘deliberate starvation’ practices in Israeli prisons