In the West Bank, the family of one of the escaped Palestinian detainees lives between fear and pride
Audio 01:08
Yacoub Qadri's father, seated under his son's portrait, in the village of Bir el-Basha near Jenin in the occupied West Bank, September 9, 2021. AFP - JAAFAR ASHTIYEH
Text by: RFI Follow
3 min
In Israel, the manhunt continues after the escape of six Palestinian detainees earlier this week.
Since then, Israeli forces have been stalking them relentlessly, and have even arrested some of their relatives.
RFI precisely met the family of one of the fugitives, near the city of Jenin in the occupied West Bank.
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With our special correspondent in Jenin,
Sami Boukhelifa
The portrait of Yacoub Qadri, one of the escapees, stands on one of the walls of the living room.
In the main room of this family home, the fugitive's parents, looking worried, are watching the news.
It is Mahmoud, one of their grandchildren who watches over them.
“
We're still in shock,
” he said.
And we are afraid, we do not know where he is.
Is he still alive?
Do they risk shooting him if they find him?
Did he manage to leave the country?
We do not know.
"
Since the escape,
Israeli forces have arrested
two members of the Qadri family for questioning.
Regardless, explains the young Mahmoud, it is the price to pay.
“
My uncle is not a criminal,” he
says.
He is not a common law detainee, he was imprisoned because he defended his country.
And there, with his fellow detainees, they humiliated the Israelis.
They still managed to escape using a teaspoon.
Frankly, respect.
They are the pride of all the Palestinian people.
"
In Jenin, Palestinians observe the deployment of Israeli forces on the outskirts of their city in search of fugitives from that region.
They claim to be preparing for an Israeli army incursion into their neighborhoods and promise to deal with it.
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To read also: Israel: six Palestinians escape from a high security prison, including a former military chief
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Israelo-Palestinian conflict
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