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Buses bringing back Palestinian prisoners released by Israel on Oct. 13, 2025 in the southern Gaza Strip. (Credit: Omar al-Qattaa/AFP) Add as preferred on Google “They have taken away the joy of my return to freedom by preventing my family from visiting me,” sighs Amin Shakirat from a hotel in Egypt, where he has been stuck since his release on Oct. 13, 2025, as part of a cease-fire agreement between Israel and Hamas. Deported after spending 21 years behind bars, the Palestinian has been unable to see his mother, his wife or his four children, aged between 21 and 26. “They don’t want to give us a chance to live a normal life. Just let us live!” he exclaims in a phone interview with L’Orient-Le Jour.Under two cease-fire agreements between Israel and Hamas — the first in January 2025 and the second in October of the same year — 3,745 Palestinian prisoners were released in exchange for the return of the last Israeli hostages from Gaza. Of those released, 383 were expelled to Egypt,... You have reached your article limit.Stay informed as events unfold across a region in flux.Subscribe for $0.5/month for the first 3 months. Subscribe now Log in This article is only available to L’Orient Today subscribers. Subscribe now Log in Create a free account to continue reading this article. You’ll also receive The Morning Brief, our must-read daily digest of Middle East news. Opt out anytime Email Address Password Email Address Password I would like to receive special offers from L'Orient Today as well as selections of the best articles. Register By creating an account, you agree to the terms and conditions of use and our privacy policy. Register Or register with: Facebook
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