Israel extends detention of 4 Palestinians caught after jailbreak

By Said Amouri

JERUSALEM (AA) – The Israeli Magistrate's Court in the northern Nazareth city has extended the detention of four Palestinian inmates, who had escaped from a high-security prison earlier this week, till Sept. 19, according to Israeli media on Sunday.

The Israeli General Prosecution had requested during a session held late Saturday to extend their detention for 13 days, but the court approved a 9-day extension, the state-owned KAN news TV reported.

Israeli police claim that the four Palestinians had allegedly planned to a carry out a "serious terrorist act", a crime that is punishable to 15 years in prison, according to Haaretz newspaper.

Israeli prosecutors accuse the four of jailbreak and incitement for others to escape from prison, a felony that is punishable to 20 years.

On Monday, six Palestinian inmates tunneled out of the high-security Gilboa prison in northern Israel. Israeli forces, however, have managed to capture four of them after a manhunt.

The remaining two are still in hide.

The jailbreak has been hailed as a “big victory” by Palestinians, while Israelis decried it as a major security and intelligence failure.

*Writing by Ahmed Asmar