DaysofPal- The Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) raided the home of Palestinian detainee Zakaria Zubeidi in Jenin Refugee Camp in the northern West Bank today, Friday, subjecting his wife and son to mistreatment.
This coincided with reports of Zubeidi’s name appearing on the list of prisoners who are expected to be released in the second batch of the prisoner exchange deal.
Eyewitnesses reported that Israeli forces stormed Zubeidi’s house in the Jabriyat neighborhood of Jenin Refugee Camp, restraining his wife, Alaa, and his 14-year-old son, Ayham.
IOF warned them against organizing any celebratory events to mark Zubeidi’s anticipated release, as part of the second phase of the initial implementation of the ceasefire agreement in Gaza and the prisoner exchange deal between Hamas and Israel, according to the witnesses.
Zubeidi’s name appeared on a list published by several Israeli media outlets last Saturday, stating that he is set to be released during the first phase of the agreement.
The Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth reported that Palestinian prisoner Zakaria Zubeidi, the former commander of the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, is part of the prisoners released Saturday as part of the second phase of the prisoner exchange deal.
The newspaper explained: “The Israeli army is preparing for Zubeidi’s release due to his symbolic status in Jenin.
He will be closely monitored from an intelligence perspective. IOF issued warnings that if Zubeidi is found in possession of weapons or engages in resistance activities, he will be targeted.”
Zubeidi, who will be released alongside other prisoners, is a prominent figure of the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades affiliated with the Fatah movement in Jenin. He is considered one of the icons of the Second Intifada and was responsible for dozens of attacks against Israel during that period.
Zubeidi, who was among the six prisoners who escaped from Gilboa Prison in September 2021, is also held responsible for the attack on the Likud branch in Beit She’an in 2002, which resulted in the deaths of six people.
On January 15, Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman announced that mediators had successfully brokered a ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip.
Bin Abdulrahman explained that the first phase of the agreement spans 42 days and includes the release of 33 Israeli captives—both living and deceased remains—in exchange for an unspecified number of Palestinian prisoners.
On January 19, the ceasefire between Hamas and Israel came into effect. As part of the agreement, Hamas released three Israeli female detainees in exchange for Israel freeing 90 Palestinian prisoners, including women and men.
On Friday, the Al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas Movement, announced the names of four Israeli female soldiers held captive in Gaza who are set to be released tomorrow, Saturday, as part of the ceasefire agreement.
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