4 of 6 Escaped Palestinian Prisoners Recaptured

Four of the six Palestinian security prisoners who escaped Monday from the maximum-security Gilboa Prison after digging a tunnel from their cell under the high prison walls were captured by Israeli security forces on Friday night and early Saturday morning. Two of the men were discovered in the northern Israeli town of Nazareth and two near the northern town of Shibli–Umm al-Ghanam.

The two remaining fugitive prisoners are said to be dangerous and could try to carry out an attack against Israelis in light of the arrest of the other four men. One of the escaped prisoners is believed to have made it to the northern West Bank, where he will be more difficult to capture, according to reports.

The men who remain at large are Iham Kamamji and Munadil Nafiyat, both are members of the Islamic Jihad terror group.

Israeli security forces say that the escaped prisoners did not receive any premeditated outside help after their escape. In addition, Arab Israelis who saw them after their escape reported them to authorities, aiding in their capture.

Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, in an unusual move for a religiously observant leader, held a series of consultations with security establishment heads over Shabbat. He praised everyone involved in apprehending the four terrorists.

“The activity was determined and persistent and the key to success was the smooth and quiet cooperation between all those who took part in the work,” Bennett said, adding: “The quick sharing of information and the precise division of tasks between the security services, which facilitated maximum coverage of the ground, must continue.”