Despite the Defense Minister's ordering the IDF to prevent celebrations for the terrorists released under the deal with Hamas, numerous such events took place throughout Judea and Samaria and Jerusalem. The revelers celebrated what they viewed as Hamas' victory over Israel and spewed incitement against Israel.
Just before the ceasefire agreement came into force, Israeli media reported that Defense Minister Katz had ordered the IDF to prevent celebrations for released terrorists. Among others, it said, "All measures must be taken to prevent celebrations and mass processions for terrorists released to Judea and Samaria. Any armed terrorist participating in such processions must be targeted. It is our obligation to protect Jewish residents and communities in Judea and Samaria, Jerusalem and along the borders.”
Despite this order, the IDF allowed many celebrations throughout Judea and Samaria, and instead of supporting the IDF in stopping such events, the Israeli police allocated their effort to preventing counterprotests by Jewish residents.
In the Arab village of Beita, near Tapuach, numerous planned celebrations were announced in advance. HaKol HaYehudi Elchanan Groner, reported on these announcements and updated authorities, yet the IDF failed to take preventative action. Instead, Israeli police arrested a Jewish counterprotester at the Tapuach Junction who was opposing the terrorist releases. The Jewish counterprotestors showed police live images of the crowd celebrating the terrorist release just a kilometer away, but the police were uninterested.
After the celebrations already died down, the IDF finally did enter the village, conduct several searches, and leave without making any arrests. It was later publicized that the IDF forces were ready several hours prior but did not receive approval to disperse the processions for terrorists.
Similarly, near the community of Itamar, seven (!) police vehicles were stationed to prevent Jewish counterprotests against the terrorists’ release. There too, in nearby Arab villages armed processions in honor of released terrorists took place and included Hamas propaganda and incitement.
In the village of Aqab near Jerusalem, senior Hamas leader Ashraf Zagheer was welcomed with a procession containing Hamas flags. Revelers also fired into the air while Zagheer wrapped himself in a Hamas scarf. Notably, Zagheer, was serving six life sentences for his role in transporting a suicide bomber who carried out the attack on Bus 4 on Allenby Street in Tel Aviv in September 2002 killing 6 people and injuring 84.
Technically, such celebrations are illegal, and police and the IDF could have arrested Zagheer for participating in such incitement, however instead forces only arrested his brother for his role in the incitement.
It’s worth noting that Zagheer has Israeli citizenship and can now move freely throughout Israel without any restrictions.
In Arraba-Jenin, arch-terrorist Mohammad al-Arda from the Islamic Jihad, who was involved in a prison break from Gilboa Prison, took part in celebrations of his release. He too was serving three life sentences for his part in the murder of Jews.
Terrorist Iyad Jarradat who was sentenced to life in prison for his role in an attack in Gadish where the community’s security coordinator Eli Biton was murdered, was also released. Even as he wore his prison clothes in which he was released, he grabbed a Hamas flag and wrapped himself in it on his way to his home in Silat al-Harithiya in Samaria.
In Bido, near Mevasseret Zion and Har Adar, celebrations marked the release of terrorist Raed Badwan, who carried out a car ramming attack near Shiloh in 2015 injuring two soldiers. The crowd marched with Hamas flags, declaring, "We are soldiers of Muhammad Deif."
In Shechem, a procession was held for terrorist Fahd Solahi, a senior figure in the Islamic Jihad terrorist organization. The celebration included numerous incidents of shooting into the air. Solahi was sentenced to seven life sentences for murdering Jews and, while in prison, wrote several books glorifying the attacks with the aim of spreading his ideology to the next generation. Arab media outlets recalled that during his trial, he declared that he regretted not being able to kill more Jews.
In Awidiya, near Bethlehem (a few kilometers from Jerusalem), revelers celebrated the release of terrorist Mohammad Abu Hanke, who was arrested in 2016 for stabbing a police officer.
The crowd there marched with flags of the Islamic Jihad terrorist organization, chanting: “Sword to sword, we are the men of Muhammad Deif."
In Qabalan, also not far from the Tapuach Junction in Samaria, the release of terrorist Anas Akra was celebrated with fireworks. Akra was arrested in 2016 after attempting to murder a Jew in a stabbing attack near the Dung Gate in Jerusalem, injuring him moderately.
The Palestinian Authority President, who some in Israel consider a partner, joined in on the celebrations. Abu Mazen called to congratulate released terrorist Yasser Abu Bakr who is responsible for the murder of three Jews, including a 9-month-old baby.
Abu Bakr, a senior commander in the Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades of Fatah was released to his former home in Romana in Samaria. He organized a 2002 attack in Netanya in which Yisrael Yehiya and 9-month-old baby Avia Malka were murdered. He is also responsible for the murder of police officer Konstantin Danilov who was killed in a clash with terrorists near Baka al-Gharbiya that same year. Abu Bakr also helped plan a suicide bombing attack at the Tel Hashomer Medical Center.
The "Palestinian Media Watch” organization previously reported that the Fatah movement had named a training course for activists after Abu Bakr.
In Tulkarem, the local terrorist battalion organized a celebration for released terrorist and openly displayed their weapons. The march was attended by Ihab Abu Atwi, commander of Hamas' military wing in Tulkarem.
In Silat al-Harithiya, 2 km from the Ram On Moshav and 10 km from Afula, a large ceremony took place including Hamas flags and posters of the Islamic Jihad terrorists released to the village including Iyad Jarradat, responsible for the attack in the Gadish settlement, and Raed Saadi, a veteran of Islamic Jihad organization who served 35 years in prison.
There were also celebrations for senior Islamic Jihad figure Zaid Basisi, who was released to the village of Ramin in Samaria (near the settlement of Einav). Basisi was a leader who represented Islamic Jihad while in prison and is responsible for several suicide bombings and attempted suicide bombings, including an attack at a market in Netanya in which several Jews were injured. At his release, he was seen once again wearing an Islamic Jihad headband.
