PIJ: Six Palestinian escapees on prisoner exchange list

Palestine

Published: 2021-09-11 19:56

Last Updated: 2024-03-28 18:54


PIJ: Six Palestinian escapees on prisoner exchange list
PIJ: Six Palestinian escapees on prisoner exchange list

Saturday, Khader Adnan, the prominent leader of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ), told Roya in an exclusive interview that the Palestinians are now betting on a prisoner exchange deal under which the six prisoners who recently escaped Gilboa prison will be released following their recapture.

Adnan called on the Palestinian people in the West Bank and historical Palestine to set in motion a total boycott of Israeli products and dealings, in an effort to denounce the recapture of the prisoners.

“We heard that Zakariye Zubeidi and his companions will be on the prisoner exchange list between the Palestinian resistance in the Gaza Strip and the Israeli occupation entity,” said Adnan.

A Hebrew newspaper reported a week ago that a noticeable and tangible progress has been made in the talks regarding a prisoner exchange deal between Hamas and Tel Aviv.

No further details were revealed about the development.

Four out of the six prisoners were recaptured late Friday night and early Saturday at dawn.

Hebrew media reported the capture citing more than one narrative of the arrest and its circumstances, all narratives were met with great skepticism, accusing the Israeli Occupation with trying to start discord among the Palestinians.

Allegedly, the first two, Yaqoub Qadri and Mahmoud Arda, were found whilst searching for food.

Palestinian media quoted eyewitnesses as saying that reconnaissance planes flew over an olive field and a truck park located between the villages of Shibli and Umm Al-Ghanam in Nazareth, before large numbers of special forces of the Israeli Occupation police arrived and carried out the process of arresting Zakariye Zubeidi, and Muhammad Arda.

A Hebrew news website indicated that the whereabouts of the two Palestinians were pinpointed after the special forces found their footprints, a packet of cigarettes, and a box of drinks.

Shortly after, a picture was taken of Zubeidi showing bruises all over his face.

Hebrew media said that Zubeidi tried to resist the arrest and escape, but he was exhausted.

As of Saturday night, lawyers have still not been able to contact or meet with the prisoners.