Prisoner exchange

Iran welcomes conditional release of Iranian student in France

The release may be part of a prisoner swap with the potential to free two French nationals from Iranian imprisonment.

A group of students attend a gathering in support of an Iranian student prisoner in France, Mahdieh Esfandiari, in front of the French embassy in Tehran, Iran, October 21, 2025
Poster for a panel at Panteion University in Athens that will feature Abdel Nasser Issa, a senior Hamas terrorist that was released in February, 2025. October 19, 2025

Senior Hamas terrorist released in deal to speak at Athens university

 A freed Palestinian prisoner holds a flag as they are greeted after being released from an Israeli jail, as part of a hostages-prisoners swap and a ceasefire deal in Gaza between Hamas and Israel, in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip, February 8, 2025.

HCJ rejects petition against hostage release deal

Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, August 21, 2025.

Russia's Lavrov outlines terms for Ukraine peace: Big power security guarantee, no NATO


Russia and Ukraine exchange group of younger and wounded prisoners of war

Russia and Ukraine began a large-scale POW exchange on Monday, swapping young and severely wounded soldiers, following a June 2 agreement.

 Russian President Vladimir Putin, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky

Arbel Yehoud, Agam Berger, Gadi Moses released from Gaza

According to information presented to mediators of the deal, five Thai citizens are also expected to be released by Hamas.

 Agam Berger, Arbel Yehoud y Gadi Moses.

It isn't a hostage 'deal,' it's extortion of Israeli souls - opinion

For more than 10 years, we have warned that appeasement and enabling genocidal terrorists to dictate conduct and equations

 LEFT TO right: Emily Damari, Romi Gonen, and Doron Steinbrecher were released from captivity last week. Anyone with a heart was moved beyond words at their return home, but for the heartless genocidal Hamas barbarians who kidnapped them, human tragedy is the strategy, the writer asserts.

Hamas, PIJ greet 70 Palestinian prisoners in Cairo who were released in ceasefire deal

As part of the agreed hostage-prisoner exchange deal, Israel released 200 terrorist prisoners on Saturday, according to Arab media reports.

 Released Palestinian prisoners in Cairo, 26 January 2025

'Monsters': Families of terror victims grapple with release of murderers as part of deal

"The State of Israel has failed to provide my family and me with security and has failed to deliver justice."

Miriam Fuld, with her children Yakir and Natan in Kfar Etzion cemetery, the West Bank, 2018.

Israel prepares for prisoner exchange as IDF, IPS conclude plans

Most of the prisoners on the list are women, and only one prisoner on the list under the age of 18 at the time of their arrest was convicted of murder.

 Red Cross vehicle is seen near the Ofer Prison, near Jerusalem, January 19, 2025

‘It’s like waiting for a birth’: Families of hostages expected to return Sunday react to news

“This is the moment we have waited for over 11,000 hours. Maybe in the next 24 hours, we will finally embrace Romi."

 Meirav Leshem Gonen with her family, including her daughter Romi, who is still in Hamas captivity.

Shin Bet chief: 'There are no good deals, but Israel is right to go for this deal'

Nevertheless, Bar admitted that releasing terrorists, some of whom he personally arrested, was "very difficult."

 Ronen Bar, head of the Shin Bet security services attends a ceremony held at the Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial Museum in Jerusalem, as Israel marks annual Holocaust Remembrance Day. April 27, 2022

Walid Daqqah's body will not be returned until hostages are freed, High Court rules

Walid Daqqah was convicted in 1987 for his role as the leader of a terrorist cell responsible for the kidnapping and murder of Israeli soldier Moshe Tamam.

 View of the Gilboa Prison, near Israel Valley, December 5, 2022

Yulia Navalnaya expresses bittersweet reaction to prisoner swap excluding her late husband

Yulia Navalnaya reflects on the reality of a recent prisoner swap that excluded her late husband, Alexei Navalny, highlighting both the hope and the ongoing struggle for Russia's opposition.

 Russian President Vladimir Putin welcomes Russian nationals, including Artyom Dultsev, Anna Dultseva and their children, following a prisoner exchange between Russia with Western countries, during a ceremony at Vnukovo International Airport in Moscow, Russia August 1, 2024.

UAE behind successful prisoner exchange between Ukraine and Russia

The UAE has facilitated at least five similar prisoner swaps between Russia and Ukraine, the last being in late May of this year.  

 Russian President Vladimir Putin is welcomed by Minister of Foreign Affairs of the United Arab Emirates Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan upon arrival at the Abu Dhabi International Airport, United Arab Emirates December 6, 2023