Jamal Akkal, a Canadian citizen born in Gaza, returned home to Windsor on August 30, having been released from an Israeli prison where he spent close to four years. Akkal was convicted of plotting with Hamas to shoot prominent Jews in North America.

While he refused to be interviewed by the Windsor Star on his arrival, he previously denied the charges, saying that a confession was obtained by Shin Beit, the Israeli secret police, because he was beaten and deprived of sleep, treatment that Israel denies. He also said that the confession he signed was in Hebrew, a language he does not understand.

Akkal had gone back to Gaza in 2003, supposedly to find a bride.