Hamas, Fatah officials warn: We will start wars in Israeli prisons

Israel Prison Services (IPS) Commissioner Kobi Yaakobi told the Knesset National Security Committee that a senior Hamas official in prison threatened a war inside Israeli prisons.

Yaakobi said that an imprisoned senior Hamas official told him, "You will end the war outside; we will start it in prison."

He also stated that a senior Fatah official told Yaakobi, "We will have our Independence Day inside the prison."

During the Knesset session, Yaakobi said, "These quotes reverberate with me, and I am preparing myself with the means and preparing the team accordingly."

Yaakobi became the new Israel Prison Service chief in May of 2024, and his appointment was approved by the government.

In an interview with Maariv on Wednesday, Yaakobi underscored the critical role of IPS in safeguarding public security, referring to security prisons as “Israel’s eighth front.”

“The prison service must have strong intelligence,” Yaakobi stated. “We possess the potential to greatly enhance both security and crime prevention, directly impacting public safety beyond prison walls.”

Prisons as 'Israel's eighth front'

Yaakobi expressed concerns over the infiltration of staff by criminal and terrorist organizations, calling for rigorous preventive measures. “Prominent crime organizations attempt to infiltrate our ranks,” he said. “That’s why polygraph tests are essential.” He further disclosed the dismissal of several staff members involved in smuggling contraband.

Focusing on the threats posed by security prisoners, Yaakobi characterized the situation as akin to other major fronts Israel faces. “This is an active and existing front,” he explained. “We call it the ‘eighth front,’ alongside Lebanon, Iran, and Iraq. We’re adapting leadership and developing offensive tools to confront it.”

Yaakobi also addressed intelligence coordination efforts. “We’re seizing hundreds of weapons and intercepting countless plots,” he noted. Intelligence, shared by IPS and Shin Bet, has revealed numerous plots to harm staff members. “These threats remain very real,” Yaakobi warned, calling for adequate funding to bolster intelligence capabilities.