Palestinian media outlets have reported the death of Naa'el Abid, who was convicted for his role in the 2002 Cafe Hillel bombing in Jerusalem. Abid, who resided in the Issawiya neighborhood of east Jerusalem, was released in the previous phase of the hostage deal agreement with Hamas. According to the reports, he sustained fatal injuries after falling from a significant height near his residence.
Abid had been serving seven life sentences plus 30 years for his involvement in one of the Second Intifada's deadliest attacks when he was freed as part of the recent prisoner exchange between Israel and Hamas. His release came after serving approximately 20 years of his sentence.
Palestinian sources indicate that Abid fell from an elevated position near his home in Issawiya. He was rushed to receive medical treatment in critical condition, but medical personnel later confirmed his death.
The attack for which Abid was convicted – the Cafe Hillel bombing – stands as one of the most devastating incidents of the Second Intifada. Court records showed that Abid provided critical assistance to the suicide bomber and played an instrumental role in the attack's infrastructure. The bombing resulted in seven fatalities and left 57 people wounded.
