Israel Arrests Last Two Escapees from Gilboa Prison

Israeli forces arrested on Sunday the last two prisoners among six Palestinian detainees who had escaped from a high-security prison about two weeks ago in an operation that embarrassed Israeli security institutions but pleased Palestinians. Israeli police commissioner Yaakov Shabtai stated that the two members of the Islamic Jihad were captured before dawn in a home in the Palestinian city of Jenin in the occupied West Bank. An Israeli police spokesperson identified the men as Naif Kamaji and Munadel Yaqoub Anfiyat. The Palestinian Prisoners Club reports that Kamaji, 35, was arrested in 2006 and is serving a life sentence, while Anfiyat, 26, was arrested in 2019. The other four were arrested in two separate incidents near the Arab city of Nazareth in northern Israel. The six have either been convicted or are suspected of planning or carrying out deadly attacks against Israelis. Residents reported that Palestinians in Jenin clashed with Israeli forces during the raid early Sunday morning. The Israeli army stated that Kamaji and Anfiyat surrendered after being surrounded by Israeli forces, and other Palestinians who assisted them were also arrested. The army added in a statement that the four were transferred for interrogation. The army also reported that Palestinians threw stones and explosives at Israeli forces and fired live ammunition as they exited the city. There was no immediate comment from the Palestinian Authority, which exercises limited self-rule in the West Bank and coordinates with Israel on security matters in the region. Palestinians view members of armed groups imprisoned by Israel as heroes in their struggle for statehood in the West Bank, Gaza, and East Jerusalem, while Israel regards them as terrorists. The six Palestinians who escaped from prison on September 6 dug a hole in their cell. Israeli officials stated that they would investigate any lapses that allowed the escape. Palestinians organized protests in support of these men throughout the West Bank and East Jerusalem. Members of the Arab minority in Israel also demonstrated to support the men, planning to organize further protests later on Sunday.