3 escape Gaza prison

Three people escaped from a prison in west Gaza on Monday, the Hamas-run Interior Ministry said.The prisoners were convicted on criminal charges and escaped from al-Ansar prison, ministry spokesman Islam Shahwan said.Security agencies announced a state of alert and are searching for the fugitives, Shahwan told Ma'an, adding that government delegations had been sent to their family homes.The Interior Ministry has formed a committee to investigate the incident.We will chase the escaped detainees and whoever helps them. Soon, they will return back to prison to be prosecuted," a ministry statement said.The ministry called on residents of Gaza to notify authorities of any information about the escapees and not to provide protection for them.