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Ramallah, West Bank — Zakaria Zubeidi, the former commander of the Fatah-aligned Al-Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigades in Jenin, was greeted with a hero’s welcome in Ramallah on Thursday night following his release as part of a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas.
Zubeidi, a notorious figure linked to several deadly terrorist attacks, was among 110 Palestinian prisoners released, with 30 others being deported to various locations, including Gaza and the West Bank.
Zubeidi, who had been incarcerated for his role in numerous terror activities, briefly escaped from Gilboa Prison in 2021, sparking a massive manhunt before his recapture.
His criminal history includes offenses such as murder, attempted murder, planting explosive devices, and membership in a terror organization.
He was first imprisoned at the age of 14 after throwing a Molotov cocktail and has since become infamous for his involvement in high-profile attacks, such as a bombing that killed six people at a Likud branch in Beit She’an.
Despite the significance of his release, the process was marred by a two-hour delay due to safety concerns.
Israeli officials had feared that the release of hostages earlier in the day—Gadi Moses and Arbel Yehoud—had been handled poorly, with civilians in Gaza mobbing the hostages.
This chaos prompted the Israeli Prison Service (IPS) to halt the prisoner handover until reassurances were made regarding the safety of future exchanges.
“Unlike the meticulous adherence of the Red Cross to the security prisoners’ release procedures, we witnessed a lynching in what happened during the hostages’ release—no less,” said an unnamed senior official from the IPS.
Hamas protested the delay, with vans filled with prisoners returning to their starting points as Israel sought confirmation that similar incidents would not occur in the future.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned the incident, calling it “further proof of Hamas’s unimaginable cruelty.” The Israeli government has pledged to ensure more careful management of future hostage returns.
The 110 prisoners, including Zubeidi, were released from Ketziot Prison in southern Israel and Ofer Prison near Ramallah. While some of the prisoners were minors, others had received extensive jail sentences, with 30 having been handed life sentences.
During the operation, the IPS reported finding improvised weapons in the prisons, including sharp objects and metal fragments. The discovery raised concerns about the potential for violence against prison wardens, further complicating the sensitive release process.
Zubeidi’s release has ignited widespread controversy, given his history as a prominent terrorist leader. His role in planning attacks that targeted Israelis has left a lasting impact on security and political tensions in the region.
As the ceasefire agreement continues to unfold, it remains uncertain how the release of such individuals will influence ongoing efforts for peace or exacerbate the already volatile situation between Israel and Hamas.
With Zubeidi’s return to the West Bank, the region braces for further developments in the aftermath of this high-profile release.