BICOM

It was announced yesterday that a Palestinian who was released by Israel in the 2011 deal to free Gilad Shalit, has been charged with the murder of an Israeli travelling in the West Bank on his way to celebrate Passover.

Ziad Awad and his son Izz Eddin Hassan Ziad Awad, both Hamas members in the Hebron area, were arrested on 7 May in a joint operation between the IDF and Shin Bet security agency. They have been charged with the murder of 47-year-old Baruch Mizrahi, a father of five who was driving with his family near Hebron. His wife was also wounded in the attack. The details of the arrest of Awad and his son were only yesterday cleared for publication.

According to the Shin Bet, Awad is thought to have carried out the shooting, while his son allegedly assisted him in planning the attack and coordinating the escape. The son apparently handed over the Kalashnikov rifle used to kill Mizrahi during the course of the investigation and implicated his father when questioned. Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu yesterday said that Awad’s arrest “is part of the overall effort we are making to fight Hamas.”

Yesterday’s announcement is prominently covered in the Israeli media this morning, in particular because Awad was one of over 1,000 Palestinian prisoners released by Israel in 2011 in order to secure the release of kidnapped soldier Gilad Shalit. Awad was convicted in 1999 of murdering alleged Palestinian collaborators with Israel. He was sentenced to 27 years imprisonment, but had served less than half his term when released.

Awad’s indictment has sparked renewed debate over the wisdom of prisoner releases. Jewish Home leader Naftali Bennett said yesterday that, “it is clear that Israel should not release any more terrorists, in any situation, full stop.” The Knesset is currently considering legislation which would prevent the government from releasing those convicted of nationalistically- motivated murder, instead requiring them to serve the entirety of their sentence.