Tensions Rise After Terrorist Dies of Cancer in Israeli Prison

Notorious Palestinian terrorist Nasser Abu Hmeid died of cancer at Shamir Medical Center on Tuesday morning. He was a founding member of the Al-Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigade terrorist group and was serving multiple life sentences for involvement in terror attacks in Israel and the killing of seven Israelis and five Palestinian collaborators.

The prison service said in a statement that Hmeid received regular medical appointments, while the Palestinians accused Israel of medical negligence and deliberately killing Abu Hmeid.

The senior terrorist was imprisoned in April 2002. He was charged with 13 different counts, including several murder charges, and sentenced to seven counts of life and another 50 years in prison.

Abu Hamid suffered a rapid decline in his health in October, which prompted the PA Prisoner Authority to demand his release and threatened retaliation should the request not be met.

Following news of his death, hundreds of Palestinians, including dozens of masked gunmen firing into the air, took to the streets and stores shuttered across Yehuda and Shomron to protest the death, according to the AP.

Palestinian factions had called for the general strike and urged people to confront Israeli troops.

In the march in Ramallah, the seat of the Palestinian Authority, demonstrators hoisted Palestinian flags and yellow Fatah flags, while others held posters of Abu Hamid next to the Al-Aqsa Mosque. A group of black-clad gunmen marched through the city, firing into the air.