Israeli Army Dispatches Troopers to Trace Escaped Palestinian Prisoners

The Israeli army (known also as IDF) decided to dispatch thousands of troopers to participate in the search for the six Palestinian prisoners who broke out from the Israeli Gilboa prison.

The army spokesman stated that it was decided to increase the army forces participating in assisting the police to track down the prisoners to 3 combat battalions and 7 companies.

In a related context, the Israeli radio "Kan" reported that the Israeli police will investigate today, Thursday, a number of prison service members about their strange decisions in the case of the escape of the six prisoners.

Sources said that the police had got the wind that there are suspicions about the cooperation of parties from inside the prison in implementing the escape operation.

The Israeli broadcaster, Kan, quoted well-informed officials as saying that the Israeli army is on alert in anticipation of expected attacks from the Gaza Strip and clashes in the West Bank, after the escape of 6 Palestinian prisoners.

The officials indicated that the Israeli forces were preparing for clashes with the Palestinians in the West Bank during the search for the six fugitives.

The sources added that the Israeli army also expects missile attacks by Palestinian resistant organizations in the Gaza Strip, especially in the event of the arrest of the 6 wanted prisoners.

"Kan" stated that the Israeli military considers the incident an "undermining of stability" that may lead to an escalation of the conflict in the region.

Massive riots erupted in Ketziot and Rimon  Israeli prisons in southern Israel against the backdrop of tightening the procedures inside them, after 6 Palestinian prisoners escaped earlier this week through a tunnel from Gilboa prison.

Simultaneously, the Palestinian "Islamic Jihad" movement threatened Israel with dire consequences if it assassinated the fleeing Palestinian prisoners.

Yesterday, Wednesday, the governorates of Palestine erupted in mass rallies in support of the prisoners in the face of the repression and attacks they are subjected to from the Israeli Prisons Administration.

The  Palestinian Liberation Movement "Fatah" called for an "urgent popular uprising in all Palestinian cities, villages, and camps, in support of the prisoners.