“One of Israel’s most dangerous prisoners” Set for release tonight – What it means for security

Issa, who is scheduled for release tonight, is considered a prominent figure among security prisoners and has extensive ties to terrorist elements outside the prison. According to Hemo, Issa’s level of influence within the prison system and his connections to Hamas make him a major security threat. Hemo even compared Issa’s potential future impact to that of Marwan Issa, a senior Hamas leader who linked the political and military wings of the organization.

Abd al-Nasser Issa’s history further solidifies his dangerous reputation. A disciple of Yahya Ayyash, also known as “the Engineer,” who was responsible for orchestrating deadly attacks for Hamas in the 1990s, Issa was entrusted with commanding operations in the West Bank. He was first arrested in 1984 for his involvement in a series of attacks against IDF patrols using explosives and Molotov cocktails. Despite his lengthy incarceration, Issa has remained an influential figure and is now set to be released, raising alarm among Israeli authorities.

Issa is not the only high-profile prisoner being released. Nael Barghouti, convicted for the 1978 murder of bus driver Mordechai Yekuel, will also be set free, along with Salama Katawi, a former leader of Hamas prisoners. Katawi, who was imprisoned in 2009, was involved in military activity and had served a 15-year sentence.

Other notable releases include Bilal Abu Ganem, who was sentenced to three life terms for his involvement in a 2015 attack in Jerusalem that killed three Israelis, and Halil Jabarin Abu-Hamid, who murdered Ari Fuld in 2018. Another terrorist set for release is Omar al-Zaban, one of the heads of Hamas’s military wing, who has been responsible for attacks that killed 27 Israelis. Additionally, Samer Makhroom, convicted of the murder of a yeshiva student in 1986, and Ala’a A-Din Al-Bazian, involved in the kidnapping of three teenagers in 2014, are also among those to be released.

These releases have sparked fears about the potential for further violence, as many of the individuals involved have deep ties to Hamas and other terrorist factions. The decision to release these prisoners continues to stir debate within Israel regarding security and the balance between peace efforts and national safety.