Skip to main content

Israel vows to capture escaped Palestinian prisoners

After the escape of six Palestinian prisoners and following riots in prisons and in the West Bank, Israel expects more violence.
Police officers search as they investigate an area where six Palestinian prisoners managed to escape from Gilboa prison overnight on Sept. 6, 2021 near Kibbutz Beit HaShita in the Gilboa region, Israel. The prisoners, who include Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigade leader Zakaria Zubeidi, are believed to have escaped through a tunnel overnight.

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.

Public Security Minister Omer Barlev vowed Sept. 9 to capture the escaped prisoners and to deal with the failures that allowed the prison break to happen. “We will get our hands on the terrorist fugitives, we will correct the failures that led to the escapes — and if we find professional negligence, we will take care of that as well,” said Barlev.

An investigation into the escape is ongoing. Shortly after the incident, the probe was entrusted to the hands of the Israeli Police' Northern Command, but today it was transferred to the international crime unit.

Yesterday, Israel Prisons Service Commissioner Katy Perry sent a letter to her colleagues, pushing back against calls for her resignation. “I am here to continue to lead you and together serve the State of Israel and its citizens,” she wrote. Perry acknowledged that the incident had shaken the organization, that it was necessary to thoroughly investigate whatever negligence had led to the prison break and that lessons must be learned from it.

Meanwhile, the prison service is facing riots inside prions across Israel and Israel has reportedly canceled family visits for Palestinian prisoners until the end of the month.

Riots are ongoing in east Jerusalem and in the West Bank. In the West Bank, about 400 Palestinians rioted overnight Wednesday at eight flashpoints, burning tires and throwing rocks at Israeli soldiers. Among other places, demonstrators clashed with Israeli forces near the Hawara checkpoint south of Nablus, in Hebron, in Bethlehem, in Ramallah, in Anabta and in Tubas. In Ramallah, rioters apparently used live fire against Israeli soldiers. In east Jerusalem, riots broke out near the Damascus Gate and in the Issawiya neighborhood.

Join hundreds of Middle East professionals with Al-Monitor PRO.

Business and policy professionals use PRO to monitor the regional economy and improve their reports, memos and presentations. Try it for free and cancel anytime.

Already a Member? Sign in

Free

The Middle East's Best Newsletters

Join over 50,000 readers who access our journalists dedicated newsletters, covering the top political, security, business and tech issues across the region each week.
Delivered straight to your inbox.

Free

What's included:
Our Expertise

Free newsletters available:

  • The Takeaway & Week in Review
  • Middle East Minute (AM)
  • Daily Briefing (PM)
  • Business & Tech Briefing
  • Security Briefing
  • Gulf Briefing
  • Israel Briefing
  • Palestine Briefing
  • Turkey Briefing
  • Iraq Briefing
Expert

Premium Membership

Join the Middle East's most notable experts for premium memos, trend reports, live video Q&A, and intimate in-person events, each detailing exclusive insights on business and geopolitical trends shaping the region.

$25.00 / month
billed annually

Become Member Start with 1-week free trial
What's included:
Our Expertise AI-driven

Memos - premium analytical writing: actionable insights on markets and geopolitics.

Live Video Q&A - Hear from our top journalists and regional experts.

Special Events - Intimate in-person events with business & political VIPs.

Trend Reports - Deep dive analysis on market updates.

Text Alerts - Be the first to get breaking news, exclusives, and PRO content.

All premium Industry Newsletters - Monitor the Middle East's most important industries. Prioritize your target industries for weekly review:

  • Capital Markets & Private Equity
  • Venture Capital & Startups
  • Green Energy
  • Supply Chain
  • Sustainable Development
  • Leading Edge Technology
  • Oil & Gas
  • Real Estate & Construction
  • Banking

We also offer team plans. Please send an email to pro.support@al-monitor.com and we'll onboard your team.

Already a Member? Sign in

Start your PRO membership today.

Join the Middle East's top business and policy professionals to access exclusive PRO insights today.

Join Al-Monitor PRO Start with 1-week free trial