The PLO has emptied out prisons throughout areas under its control, in anticipation of further Israeli retaliatory strikes. The prisoners were moved to other locations. In Shechem however, Arab sources say masked gunmen broke into the prison and freed eight Hamas and Islamic Jihad members.
Among those freed from PLO jails were Mohammad Nursi Tawolbe and his second-in-command. Tawolbe is the military commander of the Islamic Jihad in Samaria and is responsible for dispatching at least 15 suicide bombers. The PLO denies that he was released and says that he was moved from the jail in Shechem to another location. But jihad spokesmen declared that Tawolbe and his deputy are free.
Among those freed from PLO jails were Mohammad Nursi Tawolbe and his second-in-command. Tawolbe is the military commander of the Islamic Jihad in Samaria and is responsible for dispatching at least 15 suicide bombers. The PLO denies that he was released and says that he was moved from the jail in Shechem to another location. But jihad spokesmen declared that Tawolbe and his deputy are free.