The Foreign Office has denied reports that Pakistan has agreed to host Palestinian prisoners recently freed by Israel, stating that no official communication has been made on the matter.
Foreign Office Spokesperson Shafqat Ali Khan clarified during a weekly press briefing that the issue had not been discussed at the official level.
“This issue has not come up to the foreign ministry at the official level, so any comment at this point would be purely speculative,” Khan said in response to a reporter’s question.
The statement follows a claim made by Hamas spokesperson Dr Khaled Qaddoumi, who was quoted by Arab News on Feb 3, stating that Pakistan had agreed to receive 15 Palestinian prisoners released as part of the truce deal between Israel and Hamas. The deal, reached on Jan 15, aimed to end the 15-month-long Gaza war.
Earlier this week, the 15 Palestinian prisoners freed by Israel were deported first to Egypt and later arrived in Turkiye.
Israel-Hamas Truce: Prisoner Exchange Continues
The ongoing Israel-Hamas ceasefire agreement includes a phased release of hostages and detainees. Under the deal:
- Hamas has agreed to release 33 Israeli hostages, including women (both soldiers and civilians), children, and men over 50.
- In exchange, Israel will release 30 Palestinian detainees for every civilian hostage and 50 detainees for every Israeli female soldier.
The first phase of the truce has already seen Hamas release 18 hostages, while Israel has freed 583 Palestinian detainees, at least 79 of whom were sent to Egypt.
Negotiations are ongoing for the second phase of the ceasefire, which is expected to secure the release of remaining Israeli hostages and could lead to the full withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza.
Pakistan’s Position on the Gaza Conflict
Pakistan has been vocal in its support for Palestinian rights and has repeatedly condemned Israeli military actions in Gaza. However, the Foreign Office’s latest statement suggests that, despite reports, Pakistan has not made any commitments regarding the resettlement of freed Palestinian prisoners.
Diplomatic sources indicate that Pakistan is closely monitoring developments but has yet to receive a formal request regarding the issue.
