List of Arab–Israeli prisoner exchanges
Prisoner exchanges are deals where Israel matches the release of prisoners with the release of Israeli captives, or the return of bodies, from the other side. These exchanges have happened with Arab states and with militant groups during the Arab–Israeli conflict. They often happen after wars or major border clashes, and sometimes include the exchange of remains.
Key exchanges in history (simplified)
- 1948–1956: After the 1948 war, Israel traded Palestinian prisoners and POWs held by Arab armies for Israeli soldiers and civilians. In 1956, after the Suez Crisis, Israel exchanged Egyptian prisoners and other captives for Israeli captives.
- 1962–1963: Syria exchanged for Israeli bodies and captives, including a swap in 1963 of 11 Israeli captives for 18 Syrians.
- 1967 (Six-Day War): Many prisoners were taken by both sides. Most were released after the war, along with other prisoner exchanges that included spies and remains.
- 1968–1970: Jordanian soldiers captured during clashes were exchanged for Israeli bodies. An El-Al plane hijacking in 1968 led to a swap of Israeli crew for Palestinian prisoners. In 1969, Israeli captives from hijacked or shot-down planes were swapped for Egyptian and Syrian prisoners.
- 1972–1973: Several exchanges swapped Syrian officers or pilots for Israeli captives or prisoners, including the exchange of 3 Israeli pilots for 46 Syrians.
- 1973 Yom Kippur War: Both sides held thousands of prisoners. Large exchanges took place in November 1973, with many Egyptian and Syrian prisoners released in return for Israeli captives, and ongoing exchanges from the War of Attrition.
- 1975–1976: Egypt returned bodies of fallen Israeli soldiers in exchange for Palestinian and other prisoners. Israel released some prisoners from Gaza and Sinai in later exchanges.
- 1978–1985 (Lebanon and allied groups): During the Lebanon wars, Israeli soldiers and militants were swapped for hundreds of prisoners and remains. Notable exchanges included the release of Palestinian prisoners held by Israel and the return of the bodies of Israeli soldiers.
- 1980s: In one major round, Israel swapped hundreds of Palestinian prisoners for Israeli prisoners and remains. In the mid-1980s, the Jibril deal brought many Palestinian prisoners home in exchange for a large number of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails.
- 1990s: There were several swaps involving Lebanese prisoners and the bodies of fighters, sometimes tied to Hezbollah and other groups. In 1996, the bodies of two Israeli soldiers were exchanged for many Lebanese fighters’ bodies.
- 1998–2004: The exchanges continued with Israeli and Lebanese prisoners and remains traded in several rounds. In 2003, two Hezbollah members’ remains were exchanged for access to an Israeli captive held abroad. In 2004, a large exchange brought hundreds of prisoners and remains back in return for the bodies of Israeli soldiers and a captured Israeli held by Hezbollah.
- 2007–2008: The exchanges involved Hezbollah, including the release of a long-time Lebanese prisoner and the return of the bodies of Israeli soldiers killed in the 2006 Lebanon War. By mid-2008, more bodies and prisoners were swapped in follow-up deals.
- 2011: A major deal freed Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit in exchange for about 1,027 Palestinian prisoners held in Israel.
- 2020s: During the Gaza conflicts, negotiations led to several exchanges between Israel and Hamas. These were tied to temporary ceasefires brokered by regional and international mediators, with talks continuing into 2025 as part of broader Gaza settlement efforts.
This page was last edited on 3 February 2026, at 13:12 (CET).