4 Palestinian inmates who escaped Israeli jail taken to court

By Mustafa Deveci and Mehmet Nuri Ucar

NAZARETH, Israel/ GAZA, Palestine (AA) - Four Palestinian inmates who escaped from the Gilboa jail were brought to court in northern Israel, judicial sources said Saturday.

The inmates were taken to Nazareth province under intense security.

Before the closed-door hearing, a group of Palestinians chanted slogans for the release of the detainees.

The Palestinians were brought before the judge separately.

Hamas’ armed wing, Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, promised not to sign a new swap deal with Israel that would not release Palestinian fugitives who escaped from Gilboa jail.

Spokesman for the group, Ebu Ubeyde, told a local television station that a new exchange agreement will only take place with the release of the inmates.

Israeli prisons service announced Sept. 6 that six Palestinian inmates escaped from the Gilboa jail near Beit She'an. It is one of the most fortified prisons in Israel.

Since then, Israeli intelligence began an intensive search in surrounding cities. ​​​​​​​

Two inmates are still missing as the search to capture them continues.

*Writing by Gozde Bayar