Prison Services officials said Thursday night that Ofer Gamliel would be allowed to leave jail briefly in order to see his seven-year-old son Yair, who was badly wounded earlier in the day in a terrorist attack in Bat Ayin. However, Gamliel must remain in handcuffs and under police escort, they said.
Gamliel's supporters protested the decision. Gamliel is not considered a flight risk and has been allowed to take brief leaves from prison in the past, with no handcuffs or escort, they said.
Officials initially insisted that Gamliel wear prison garb while visiting his young son. However, Gamliel insisted on being allowed to wear civilian clothes, and after a brief protest was allowed to do so.
Yair Gamliel suffered head wounds when he was attacked by an axe-wielding terrorist. The terrorist murdered a second boy, 16-year-old Shlomo Nativ.
Yair was rushed to Hadassah Ein Kerem hospital in Jerusalem, where he underwent emergency surgery. Doctors say he is currently in moderate condition.
The Gamliel family and supporters have asked the public to pray for Yair using his Hebrew name, Yair ben Michal.
Ofer Gamliel is serving the seventh year of a 15-year jail term for plotting a bomb attack on an Arab school. The bomb Gamliel and his friends were planning to use was not in working order. Gamliel claimed that he was only planning a bomb scare, and had intentionally used a dud bomb, but his claim was rejected.