Israel captures four out of six Palestinian fugitives

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Two more Palestinian fugitives, including former Al-Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigade leader Zakaria Zubeidi, were captured in Northern Israel on Saturday hours after first fugitives were caught. The two were apprehended after police and military forces spotted two suspected individuals. Police Special Anti-Terror Unit was rushed to the area to confirm their identities and make the arrest.

Zubeidi is the most well-known inmate of the six. He was behind the 2002 attack in the Likud branch in Beit She’an, in which six people were killed – as well as other cases. According to police source Zubeidi resisted arrest but was quickly restrained.

Zakaria Zubeidi

The second inmate captured is Mohammed Aradeh, who was serving three life sentences plus 20 years for his activities as part of the army branch of the Islamic Jihad. His brother, who is believed to be the one who planned the escape from Gilboa Prison, was captured several hours earlier in Nazareth.

On Friday the first Two Palestinian fugitives were captured in Nazareth. Islamic Jihad members Mahmoud Aradeh and Yakub Kadari were caught after civilians spotted two suspicious figures and reported them to the police. The two were taken for questioning by the Shin Bet security services. They did not resist arrest.

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Shortly after Friday’s arrests, a rocket from Gaza was launched into Israel and was shut down. Following the launch Israeli fighter jets attacked several Hamas targets in the strip. No injuries were reported. In the west bank Palestinians confronted Israeli military forces in solidarity with the escaped prisoners.

The six fugitives escaped through a tunnel they dug from within their cell, apparently over the last six months. All the escaped convicts – five members of Islamic Jihad and one Fatah member – are residents of the Jenin area. The two remaining prisoners are still at large.