Shin Bet Releases Jibril Zubaidi, Brother of Palestinian Prisoner Leader Zakaria Zubaidi

The Israeli Shin Bet security service decided on Monday to release Jibril Zubaidi, a senior Fatah member from Jenin, from administrative detention. Jibril had been held since 2023 under multiple extensions of his detention order following court hearings. He is the brother of Zakaria Zubaidi, a former leader of the Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades and current head of the Palestinian Prisoners Authority. Zakaria was previously pardoned under a wanted persons agreement but later returned to militant activities, was re-arrested, escaped from Gilboa prison through a tunnel, recaptured, and ultimately released in a prisoner exchange deal. Over the past year, Zakaria Zubaidi has publicly criticized Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir for tightening conditions on Palestinian security prisoners, accusing him of mistreatment. The Shin Bet did not comment on the release of Jibril Zubaidi, which follows the expiration of his administrative detention order.