Israeli court sentences Palestinian prison escapees to 5 more years in jail

Jerusalem, May 22 (EFE).- An Israeli court on Sunday handed an additional five years in prison to six Palestinians who escaped from a high-security prison last year.

The prisoners, five of whom are members of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad with the other belonging to the armed wing of the nationalist Fatah party, were recaptured a few days after escaping from the Israeli prison in Gilboa in September.

Some of them were already serving life sentences for terrorism.

Meanwhile, five inmates were handed a four-year prison sentence for having supported the escapees in breaking out, according to local media.

Some 14,000 people are currently imprisoned in Israel, including some 4,500 Palestinians. EFE

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