154 Palestinian detainees to be exiled upon release: Prisoners’ Media Office

• 154 Palestinian detainees released by ‘Israel’  will be forcibly exiled to other countries.
• Red Cross dispatched to collect remains of 4 deceased captives held in Gaza.

At least 154 Palestinian detainees being released by ‘Israel’ under a prisoner exchange for captives held in Gaza will be forcibly exiled to other countries, the Palestinian Prisoners’ Media Office told Al Jazeera.

Families of the detainees expressed shock and heartbreak over the decision, describing the long-awaited release as bittersweet. 

The deported detainees are part of a larger group of 250 Palestinians freed from ‘Israeli’ jails, alongside roughly 1,700 others seized from Gaza since the start of the offensive two years ago. 

Read more: ‘Israeli’ army says Red Cross on its way to collect several dead captives' remains

Details of where the deported Palestinians will be sent remain unclear, though past releases saw detainees sent to countries including Tunisia, Algeria, and Turkey.

Observers have criticized the forced exile as a violation of the prisoners’ citizenship rights and an example of double standards in the implementation of exchange deals.

Hamas and other Palestinian factions, meanwhile, handed over 20 living ‘Israeli’ captives under the Gaza ceasefire agreement. 

Additionally, the ‘Israeli’ army confirmed Monday that the Red Cross is en route to collect the remains of four deceased captives, out of 28 held in Gaza.