Watan-With the implementation of the first phase of the deal to cease fire and exchange Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails for Israeli captives held by the Palestinian resistance in the Gaza Strip, the issue of prisoner exchange deals with Israel resurfaces. These deals have a storied history, beginning after the modern Palestinian revolution in 1965. Several Palestinian factions, including Fatah, the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), the PFLP-General Command, and Hamas, have successfully negotiated such exchanges with Israel.
The Significance of Exchange Deals
Prisoner exchange deals with Israel, typically conducted indirectly between Israel and Palestinian factions, hold special significance for Palestinians. Many Palestinian prisoners can only gain their freedom through such agreements, as Israel imposes long sentences, particularly on those involved in operations or holding significant military or political positions. Some sentences reach thousands of years, such as that of Abdullah Barghouti, who is serving 67 life sentences plus 5,200 years—the harshest in history. These severe sentences reflect Israel’s deliberate effort to suppress Palestinian resistance and reshape the political and military dynamics of Palestinian society.
During the first day of the operation dubbed “Al-Aqsa Flood,” the Palestinian resistance captured over 250 Israelis, including settlers from the Gaza periphery and foreign nationals.
Notable Deals
One of the most prominent exchanges occurred on October 18, 2011, when the Palestinian resistance released Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit, who had been captured in 2006, in exchange for 1,027 Palestinian prisoners. This deal, known as the “Loyalty of the Free” deal, was a milestone.
Another exchange took place in November 2023, during the “humanitarian deal,” when Hamas and Islamic Jihad released 105 Israeli captives taken during the “Al-Aqsa Flood” operation in exchange for 240 Palestinian prisoners, mostly women and children. This deal was mediated by Qatar and Egypt.
The 1980s: Growing Expertise
The 1980s saw several notable prisoner exchanges as Palestinian resistance groups gained experience and improved their operations. One of the most significant occurred in 1980 when Fatah arrested Aminah al-Mufti, an intelligence agent for Israel, and exchanged her for two Palestinian detainees. Another prominent deal was in 1983, when Fatah exchanged six Israeli prisoners for over 4,700 Palestinian and Lebanese detainees, along with archives confiscated during Israel’s 1982 invasion of Beirut.
In 1985, the “Galilee Exchange” deal between the PFLP-General Command and Israel resulted in the release of 1,155 prisoners in exchange for three Israeli soldiers.
Early Deals: 1960s and 1970s
The first exchange occurred in 1968, when Leila Khaled and Yousef al-Radi hijacked an Israeli plane heading from Rome to Tel Aviv, redirecting it to Algeria. They demanded the release of Palestinian prisoners, resulting in the exchange of 37 prisoners for the passengers.
Other notable exchanges include:
- 1971: Fatah secured the release of Palestinian prisoner Mahmoud Bakar Hijazi in exchange for an Israeli soldier, Shmuel Faiz.
- 1979: The PFLP-General Command exchanged an Israeli soldier for 76 Palestinian prisoners, including 12 women, following the “Seagull Operation.”
Conclusion
Over the decades, prisoner exchanges have remained a critical strategy for Palestinian factions to secure the release of their people from Israeli prisons. These deals highlight the broader struggle and resistance against the occupation and underscore the importance of negotiating power in addressing the Palestinian cause.
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