Israeli security forces are searching for a fourth day for six Palestinian prisoners who escaped Sept. 6 from the high security Gilboa Prison. Yesterday, the Israel Defense Forces said it was boosting its search efforts, adding two battalions, six companies, two reconnaissance teams, a number of special forces squads and aerial surveillance teams. Israeli authorities consider the six escaped prisoners dangerous. Five of the fugitives are members of the Islamic Jihad group and the sixth is a senior member in Fatah.
After the breakout, Gilboa Prison inmates were transferred to other facilities. They are not expected to return there but instead be distributed among other prisons, separating Islamic Jihad members. Apparently, some security prisoners from Megiddo prison in the north and Ofer prison in the center of Israel were also transferred. Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad and other Palestinian factions called for a “day of rage” Sept. 10 in protest of the transfer.
