Police rescue Palestinian kidnapped and held for ransom in Israel; suspects arrested

A 60-year-old Palestinian man was rescued by the Israel Police Saturday, after being kidnapped in the Rosh Ha’ayin area on Wednesday.

The incident, which was previously under a police gag order, began after the victim’s son contacted police and reported the kidnapping, which allegedly occurred following a dispute between his father and a contractor, a police statement said.

According to police, the kidnappers demanded a ransom of hundreds of thousands of shekels from the victim’s family, residents of Hebron, in exchange for the return of the 60-year-old.

Police eventually raided a location in the central Arab town of Umm al-Fahm, where the victim was being held.

“Detectives arrested a number of suspects who are residents of Umm al-Fahm, as well as vehicles suspected to have been used in the kidnapping,” the statement said, adding that the court had extended their remand.

Police did not give details on how many suspects were arrested.