Zubeidi, one of the six Palestinians who escaped Gilboa’s high-security Israeli prison last week and along with three others, was recaptured on Friday and Saturday. He was allegedly beaten and tortured by the Israeli security forces after being recaptured

Hasan Abed Rabbo, spokesperson of the Palestinian Detainees Affairs Commission, was quoted by the Wafa news agency saying that after Zubeidi’s arrest from a north Israeli town, the Israeli forces beat him on his face, led to deterioration in his health. Zubeidi was taken to Rambam Medical Center in Haifa for treatment. 

Zubeidi’s brother Jibril Zubeidi was quoted by the Quds news network claiming that “my brother is being subjected to the harshest form of torture” with electricity. He also claimed that Zakaria’s leg had been broken and he was not allowed to sleep by the prison authorities. According to the reports in the Israeli press, Zakaria Zubeidi refused to cooperate with the Israeli security forces.

Zubeidi is a former member of Fatah’s Al-Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigade and a co-founder of the Palestinian theater group The Freedom Theater. He was arrested several times by the Israeli forces. He has been awaiting trial since his arrest in 2019.  

Rabbo also claimed that Israeli security forces have not allowed lawyers to visit the four prisoners, making it impossible to verify reports of their health given by Shin Bet, the Israeli security agency. Palestinian human rights groups have asked the International Red Cross to intervene and facilitate the visit of lawyers and family members to the captured prisoners. 

For more: Peoples Dispatch