GAZA, July 16 (UPI) -- Kidnapped Gaza Police Chief Gen. Ghazi el Jabali was released Friday after reaching an agreement with his kidnappers, a security official said.
The official, who spoke on conditions of anonymity, said that al Jabali was released and was handed over to the mediator who negotiated with the kidnappers in one of the houses in al Buriej refugee camp in central Gaza Strip.
Dozens of Palestinian gunmen Friday kidnapped al-Jabali in the central Gaza Strip, demanding jobs for the unemployed.
Witnesses said at least 100 militants blocked al-Jabali's convoy and exchanged fire with his bodyguards, one of whom was seriously injured.
The militants were believed members of the Brigades of Jenin's Martyrs, a militant Fatah movement group operating in Gaza and headed by Mahmoud Nahshabat.
Palestinian security sources confirmed al-Jabali was kidnapped and an emergency was declared in the area.
The militants threatened to shoot al-Jabali in the legs if the Palestinian Authority does not give jobs to dozens of unemployed young men.
Al-Jabali, who is loyal to Arafat, was fired for corruption when the Mahmoud Abbas government was formed a year ago, but Arafat brought him back after the government's collapse.
