It was not clear how Abu Odeh, who was being held in the Ansar Prison in the Gaza Strip, managed to escape. The rare escape is seen by many Palestinians as a serious embarrassment for Hamas.
Hamas has arrested a number of suspects on suspicion of helping Abu Odeh according to a Palestinian journalist in the Gaza Strip.
Hamas officials described Abu Odeh as an extremely dangerous security prisoner and offered a reward for information leading to his capture.
The officials said they did not rule out the possibility that Abu Odeh, who was a top commander of the Hamas military wing, Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, would try to cross the border into Israel.
Hamas set up checkpoints and deployed dozens of security officers in several parts of the Gaza Strip, especially near the border with Israel, in an attempt to prevent Abu Odeh from leaving the coastal enclave.
Hamas also issued a warning to fishermen in the Gaza Strip against helping Abu Odeh.
Eyad al-Bozm, spokesperson for the Hamas-controlled Ministry of Interior, said that Abu Odeh escaped from prison on Saturday morning. “The Hamas security forces are taking measures to re-apprehend him,” he added without elaborating.
On Saturday night, Hamas security officers raided the home of Abu Odeh and arrested a number of his family members, according to sources in the Gaza Strip.
