Ahmed Jabari | |
|---|---|
أحمد الجعبري | |
| Born | 1960 |
| Died | 14 November 2012 (aged 51–52) Gaza City, Gaza Strip |
| Cause of death | Airstrike by Israeli Air Force |
| Resting place | Sheikh Radwan cemetery |
| Nationality | Palestinian |
| Alma mater | Islamic University of Gaza |
| Known for | 2006 Hamas cross-border raid |
| Military career | |
| Allegiance |  Palestine (Hamas) |
| Service | Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades |
| Rank | Military Commander |
| Hamas biographies |
|---|
| Map: Birthplaces and family origins. |
Ahmed al-Jabari[Note 1] (Arabic: أحمد الجعبري; 1960 – 14 November 2012), also known as Abu Mohammad,[1][2] was a senior leader and second-in-command of the military wing of Hamas, the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades. He was widely credited as the leading figure in the Hamas takeover of the Gaza Strip,[3] and commanded the 2006 Hamas cross-border raid which resulted in the capture of Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit.[3] Under his command, along with chief logistics officer Mahmoud al-Mabhouh, Hamas developed its own military weapons capability significantly by acquiring longer-range guided missiles and rockets.[4]
While at the Islamic University of Gaza, Jabari joined Fatah, a Palestinian organization that advocated for an armed struggle against Israel. In 1982, he was arrested by the Israeli authorities and imprisoned for 13 years. After being released he joined Fatah's Islamist rival Hamas' militant wing and was believed to have been involved in the bombing of a bus in Kfar Darom, following which he was arrested by the Preventive Security Force of the Palestinian Authority in 1998, being released the following year. In 2002, Jabari became the acting operational head of Hamas' military wing when Mohammad Deif was seriously wounded in an Israeli airstrike.[5] In this position Jabari was also a high-ranking official within Hamas' political leadership, as well as the founder of the Nur Association, which aimed to help "martyrs and prisoners."[6]
The Israeli Air Force and Shin Bet conducted a targeted precision air strike on 14 November 2012, a part of Operation Pillar of Defense, killing Jabari while he was travelling in a car.[7][8] The decision to liquidate him, according to Haaretz analyst Reuven Pedatzur, arose from a decision by Israeli military to attack Hamas rather than seek a ceasefire.[9] Jabari was the highest-level Hamas official killed in Gaza since the 2008 Gaza War.[10]
Cite error: There are <ref group=Note> tags on this page, but the references will not show without a {{reflist|group=Note}} template (see the help page).
- ^ "Obituary: Ahmad al-Jaabari (1960–2012)". Ma'an. 14 November 2012. Archived from the original on 16 November 2012. Retrieved 16 November 2012.
- ^ Bartal, Shaul (18 November 2012). "Hamas and the 'Islamic Winter'". Maariv. Archived from the original on 20 November 2012. Retrieved 13 December 2012.
- ^ a b Cite error: The named reference
cgeneralwas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Bronner, Ethan (17 November 2012). "With Longer Reach, Rockets Bolster Hamas Arsenal". The New York Times. Retrieved 26 June 2024.
- ^ Chabin, Michele (14 November 2012). "Israelis brace for attacks after Hamas leader killed". USA Today. Jerusalem. Retrieved 26 June 2024.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
Arabiyawas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Levy, Elior (14 November 2012). "IDF kills top Hamas commander". Ynet News. Retrieved 14 November 2012.
- ^ Isabel Kershner; Fares Akram (15 November 2012). "Israeli Assault into Gaza Kills A Hamas Leader". The New York Times. p. A1.
- ^ Pedatzur, Reuven (4 December 2012). "Why did Israel kill Jabari?". Haaretz. Retrieved 26 June 2024.
- ^ "Israel Intensifies Gaza Air Strikes". Voice of America. 15 November 2012. Retrieved 26 June 2024.