The Israeli Army on Friday arrested more relatives of six escaped Palestinian prisoners, an advocacy body said, as troops kept up a massive manhunt in the occupied West Bank.
Israel has poured troops into the Palestinian territory since Monday's breakout by six militants from the high security Gilboa prison in northern Israel through a tunnel dug under a sink in a cell.
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Six Palestinians have escaped from Gilboa prison in northern Israel. Getty -
The prisoners, who include former Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigades leader Zakaria Zubeidi, are believed to have escaped at night through a tunnel. Getty -
Prison authorities have started a manhunt in northern Israel and the occupied West Bank. Getty -
The Israel Prison Service has said an alert was sounded at about 3am after 'suspicious figures' were seen outside the prison. Reuters -
Israel’s Army Radio has said the men appeared to have received help from outside. Reuters -
About 400 people are detained at the prison over 'security offences' and all are to be relocated as a result of the escape, the prison service says. Reuters -
The narrow escape tunnel started beneath a sink and continued deep underground. Reuters -
Gilboa is considered to be one of the most secure prisons in Israel. Reuters -
Four of the men who escaped were serving life sentences, the Palestinian Prisoners Club says. Getty -
Authorities believe the men may try to reach the occupied West Bank, which is about four kilometres from the prison, or the border with Jordan, which is 14km away. Getty -
The Israeli military are among the agencies involved in the search operation. Getty -
Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett has called the escape a 'grave incident' that requires maximum effort from the country's various security branches. Getty -
The prisoners have escaped on the eve of the Jewish New Year. Getty -
A spokesman for Hamas has described the escape as a 'victory for the will and determination of our heroic prisoners'. Getty
Two brothers and a sister of suspected mastermind Mahmud Ardah were arrested on Friday morning in the village of Arraba near Jenin in the northern West Bank, the Palestinian Prisoners Club said.
Ardah, a member of militant group Islamic Jihad, was jailed for life in 1996 over his role in deadly attacks.
Other relatives of the six fugitives, all from the Jenin area, were arrested on Wednesday and are being held in detention, the Palestinian advocacy group said.
The Israeli Army made no immediate comment on the latest arrests.
Speaking on a visit to a checkpoint between Israel and the West Bank, Defence Minister Benny Gantz said: "Sooner or later, we'll lay our hands on those we seek."
Mr Gantz said Israel did not want to see its reinforced military presence in the territory lead to any escalation.
"It's six people out of the millions living here," he said. "We need to be able to deal with these six and their accomplices without disrupting the other balances here.
"I hope this day will end quietly, either way the [army] is prepared for any development."
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Palestinians flash the "V" for victory sign as they celebrate the escape of six Palestinians from an Israeli prison, in the Jenin camp in the northern Israeli-occupied West Bank, on September 6, 2021. Six Palestinians broke out of a prison in northern Israel prison through a tunnel dug beneath a sink, triggering a massive manhunt for the group that includes a prominent ex-militant. AFP -
Supporters of the Islamic Jihad movement distribute sweets to celebrate the escape of six Palestinians from an Israeli prison, in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip. Six Palestinians broke out of an Israeli prison through a tunnel dug beneath a sink, triggering a massive manhunt for the group that includes a prominent ex-militant. AFP -
Palestinians celebrate the escape of the six Palestinian prisoners from the Israeli prison of Gilboa, in the West Bank city of Hebron. Six Palestinians managed escape from the Gilboa prison through a tunnel. EPA -
Palestinians hold photos of Palestinian detainees as they celebrate the escape of the six Palestinian prisoners from the Israeli prison of Gilboa, in the West Bank city of Hebron. Six Palestinians managed escape from the Gilboa prison through a tunnel. Israeli security agencies launched a search operation for the prisoners including a former Fatah party leader in Jenin and five members of the Islamic Jihad movement who were serving life sentences. EPA -
Palestinians hold photos of Palestinian detainees as they celebrate the escape of the six Palestinian prisoners from the Israeli prison of Gilboa, in the West Bank city of Hebron. Six Palestinians managed escape from the Gilboa prison through a tunnel. Israeli security agencies launched a search operation for the prisoners including a former Fatah party leader in Jenin and five members of the Islamic Jihad movement who were serving life sentences. EPA -
Palestinians celebrate the escape of the six Palestinian prisoners from the Israeli prison of Gilboa, in the West Bank city of Hebron. Six Palestinians managed escape from the Gilboa prison through a tunnel. Israeli security agencies launched a search operation for the prisoners including a former Fatah party leader in Jenin and five members of the Islamic Jihad movement who were serving life sentences. EPA -
Palestinians march to celebrate the escape of the six Palestinian prisoners from the Israeli prison of Gilboa, in the West Bank city of Hebron. Six Palestinians managed escape from the Gilboa prison through a tunnel. Israeli security agencies launched a search operation for the prisoners including a former Fatah party leader in Jenin and five members of the Islamic Jihad movement who were serving life sentences. EPA -
Palestinians march to celebrate the escape of the six Palestinian prisoners from the Israeli prison of Gilboa, in the West Bank city of Hebron. Six Palestinians managed escape from the Gilboa prison through a tunnel. Israeli security agencies launched a search operation for the prisoners including a former Fatah party leader in Jenin and five members of the Islamic Jihad movement who were serving life sentences. EPA -
People celebrate the escape of six Palestinian militants from an Israeli prison, in Hebron, in the Israeli-occupied West Bank. Reuters -
Palestinians shout slogans as they celebrate the escape of six Palestinians from an Israeli prison, in the Jenin camp in the northern Israeli-occupied West Bank. Six Palestinians broke out of a prison in northern Israel prison through a tunnel dug beneath a sink, triggering a massive manhunt for the group that includes a prominent ex-militant. AFP -
People celebrate the escape of six Palestinian militants from an Israeli prison, in Hebron, in the Israeli-occupied West Bank. Reuters -
A Palestinian man distributes sweets to celebrate the escape of six Palestinians from an Israeli prison, in Gaza Strip. - Six Palestinians broke out of an Israeli prison through a tunnel dug beneath a sink, triggering a massive manhunt for the group that includes a prominent ex-militant. AFP
Palestinians have been celebrating the escape with demonstrations in both the West Bank and the Israeli-blockaded Gaza Strip, some of which have been accompanied by rioting.
Islamic Jihad and Hamas, the rulers of Gaza, called for a "Day of Rage" in the West Bank on Friday.
An Israeli court injunction is in effect against publishing details of the jailbreak investigation, even as Israeli media report on the scramble to recover from the embarrassing security lapse.
On Thursday, Public Security Minister Omer Bar Lev said that he and Prime Minister Naftali Bennett had agreed to form a commission of inquiry led by a retired judge.
