Israel catches two more Palestinian militant escapees

Two more of the six Palestinian militants who escaped from a maximum-security Israeli jail this week were arrested Saturday morning, police said.

The men were nabbed in a truck parking lot near the city of Nazareth, the same place two other escapees were caught a few hours earlier, Reuters reported Saturday.

The inmates made their break through a hole in their prison cell floor Monday.

Zakaria Zubeidi in police custody after being captured following his escape from prison with five other Palestinian militants in Umm Al Ghanam, Israel on September 11, 2021.
Zakaria Zubeidi in police custody after being captured following his escape from prison with five other Palestinian militants in Umm Al Ghanam, Israel on September 11, 2021.
Israeli Police/Handout via REUTE

Israel officials, who vowed to fully investigate how the six made their daring escape, say the inmates have either been convicted or are suspected of planning or carrying out deadly attacks against Israelis.

One of the men captured on Saturday was Zakaria Zubeidi, a former commander of Fatah’s Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigades armed group in the West Bank city of Jenin.

Israeli security forces with two of the captured fugitives.
Israeli security forces with two of the captured fugitives.
Israeli Police via AP

Zubeidi, who once received Israeli amnesty, was rearrested by Israel in 2019 after his alleged involvement in further shootings.

The other five prisoners are members of the Islamic Jihad militant group.