Prisoners In Israeli Jails Announce General Mobilization

A relative of the fugitive prisoner Mahmoud Al-Ardah in the village of Arraba, south of Jenin (AFP).
A relative of the fugitive prisoner Mahmoud Al-Ardah in the village of Arraba, south of Jenin (AFP).
TT

Prisoners In Israeli Jails Announce General Mobilization

A relative of the fugitive prisoner Mahmoud Al-Ardah in the village of Arraba, south of Jenin (AFP).
A relative of the fugitive prisoner Mahmoud Al-Ardah in the village of Arraba, south of Jenin (AFP).

The movement of prisoners in Israeli jails and detention centers announced a general mobilization, and threatened to rebel against all prison administration laws, if the “repressive and punitive” measures taken against them continued since the escape of six prisoners from the heavily guarded Gilboa prison in northern Israel.

The Prisoners’ Affairs Authority (an official Palestinian body) said that quick consultations took place between the movement’s leaders in prisons and detention centers, adding that an agreement was reached to confront the attacks of the “special repression units” and the prison police by all means and methods.

The commission, which deals with prisoners’ affairs, accused the Israeli government and its agencies of working to “cover up their failure and defeat in front of the solid will of the Palestinian prisoners, through a fierce attack on the prisoners inside jails and detention centers, and on our people, through incursions and arrests that targeted the families of the six escaped prisoners…”

The prisoners set fire to the rooms of Section 6 in the Negev Prison in protest against the Israeli escalation and transfers, and also tried to set fire to other prisons.

The administration of the Israeli Prisons Authority had drawn up a plan to transfer and disperse the prisoners of the Islamic Jihad movement inside multiple other prisons; a step that might led a serious security escalation.

In retaliation for the Israeli campaign, a prisoner in Gilboa attacked an Israeli guard with hot water.

The Prisoner’s Club said that the prisoner Malik Hamed from Silwad poured hot water on a jailer in Gilboa prison, in response to “the operations of repression and abuse against the prisoners.” The guards abused Hamed, then isolated him, before transferring all prisoners of Section 3 to Shata prison.

Israel’s pursuit of the fugitive prisoners continued on Wednesday, while the security services tried to put increasing pressure by arresting their relatives.

The occupation forces arrested Yaqoub Nafeat, the father of the escaped prisoner Munadel Nafeat, and Raddad Al-Ardah, the brother of Mahmoud Al-Ardah from the town of Arraba. They also detained Bassem Al-Ardah, the brother of the pursued captive Mohammad Al-Ardah.

The Israeli army had stormed the towns of Yaabad and Arraba (south of Jenin) in search of camera recording devices. Then the soldiers raided the fugitives’ homes and arrested their families. Hundreds of soldiers, intelligence men, police dogs, drones and various helicopters are chasing the six prisoners in large areas.



Iraq Urges Trump to Strengthen Security Coordination

Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani (Government Media)
Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani (Government Media)
TT

Iraq Urges Trump to Strengthen Security Coordination

Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani (Government Media)
Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani (Government Media)

Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani congratulated US President Donald Trump on returning to the White House, while the Shiite-led Coordination Framework ignored the occasion.

Instead, Coordination Framework officials focused on calls for a ceasefire in Gaza and domestic issues.

In his message on Tuesday, al-Sudani’s gesture seemed to clear the way for Iraq to move past the arrest warrant issued for Trump in 2021 over the 2020 killings of Qassem Soleimani and Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis.

The Iraqi judiciary stated at the time that the arrest warrant was based on Article 406 of the Iraqi Penal Code and that investigations into other individuals involved, whether Iraqi or foreign, would continue.

This week, Iraqi activists shared an image of the judicial decision, sparking debate on social media about the fate of the arrest warrant now that Trump has returned to the US presidency.

Some argued that the warrant would remain a point of embarrassment for those who pushed for its issuance.

Nevertheless, Sudani congratulated Trump, expressing Iraq's interest in strengthening ties with the US through the Strategic Framework Agreement, focusing on mutual interests.

He emphasized the importance of promoting regional and global stability, security, and development.

Sudani reiterated Iraq’s commitment to its strategic relationship with the US and expanding cooperation in security, economics, culture, technology, investment, and sustainable development, while respecting sovereignty and avoiding interference in domestic affairs.

President Abdul Latif Jamal Rashid also congratulated Trump on his re-election, affirming Iraq’s support for security and stability in the region and the world, and for enhancing bilateral relations to benefit both nations.

In contrast, the Coordination Framework refrained from mentioning Trump in its statement following a meeting held in Baghdad on Monday night into Tuesday, coinciding with the inauguration ceremony in Washington.

Instead, the coalition congratulated the Palestinian people on the Gaza ceasefire and urged the international community to ramp up efforts to rebuild war-torn areas, assist displaced people, and address the destruction of infrastructure, particularly hospitals and schools.

The Coordination Framework also highlighted consensus among the Iraqi parliament’s leadership, calling for support for provincial governors in fulfilling their duties.

While praising the government's successful foreign visits, Coordination Framework officials emphasized the importance of maintaining Iraq’s balanced foreign policy.