On 10 March 2024, Marwan Issa, the deputy commander of Hamas' military wing, the Al-Qassam Brigades, was killed by an Israeli airstrike as part of the Israel–Hamas war. Israel announced the targeting of an underground facility in Nuseirat in the central Gaza Strip, allegedly used by Issa, airing footage of the strike and noting that the results were still being analyzed. Five Palestinians were reportedly killed in the bombing.[1] Hamas did not respond until it privately confirmed Issa's death on 17 March.[2]
| Assassination of Marwan Issa | |
|---|---|
| Part of the Israel–Hamas war | |
  Nuseirat Location within the Gaza Strip | |
| Location | Nuseirat, Gaza Strip |
| Date | 10 March 2024 |
| Target | Marwan Issa |
Attack type | Airstrike |
| Deaths | 5+ Palestinians |
| Perpetrator |  Israel Defense Forces |
Background
editMarwan Issa had served as the deputy commander of the Al-Qassam Brigades, acting as a deputy to Mohammed Deif. Issa had been described as a "decisive and quiet" person who "had a lot of experience". Israeli military spokesman Daniel Hagari alleged that Issa helped plan the 7 October Hamas-led attack on Israel.[3]
Marwan Issa spent five years in prison from 1987 to 1992 for his activities with Hamas and involvement in the First Intifada. He was imprisoned again in 1997 by the Palestinian Authority for his role in bomb attacks, but escaped prison in 2000 when the Second Intifada erupted.[4] Israel had previously attempted to assassinate Issa by destroying his house twice, during the 2014 Gaza War and the 2021 Israel–Palestine crisis, killing his brother. Issa's son was killed in an Israeli airstrike in central Gaza in December 2023. Marwan Issa was labeled a Specially Designated Global Terrorist by the United States in September 2019.[5]
According to the Israel Defense Forces, the other targeted Hamas official, Ghazi Abu Tama'a, was a former head of Hamas's Central Camps Brigade and was responsible "for all of Hamas's weapons in Gaza".[6]
Assassination
editAccording to the Israel Defense Forces, the targeted underground complex in Nuseirat was used by two Hamas officials, namely Marwan Issa and Ghazi Abu Tama'a. During the night of 10 March 2024, Israeli warplanes dropped bombs on the underground facility, killing Issa and at least five Palestinians.[1]
Confirmation
editOn 17 March 2024, it was reported that Hamas had confirmed in private that Issa had been killed in the strike. At the time of his killing, Issa was the highest-ranking Hamas commander to be killed in the war.[7] Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reportedly hailed the news as "a great achievement for Israel" and stated "they will all die, we will reach them all."[8]
On 18 March 2024, U.S. White House official Jake Sullivan confirmed Issa's death, adding that "a military plan cannot succeed without an integrated humanitarian plan and political plan".[9][10][11]
On 26 March 2024, the Israel Defense Forces officially confirmed Issa's death after having "looked into all the intelligence".[6]
Analysis
editExperts noted that Issa's death did not represent a significant threat to the group's survival, insisting that "there's always a replacement" and that Hamas will "overcome" the assassination in a week or two.[3]
Al Jazeera's senior political analyst, Marwan Bishara, noted that "the idea of declaring victory because one or two, or several Hamas leaders were killed, has proven to be more of a facade" and that "Hamas has proven more than capable of producing more and more leaders".[12]
References
edit- ^ a b Fabian, Emanuel (March 11, 2024). "IDF airs footage of strike on Hamas's No. 3, but says still unclear if he was killed". The Times of Israel.
- ^ Rasgon, Adam (2024-03-11). "Israel Says It Targeted Marwan Issa, a Top Hamas Leader in Gaza". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2024-03-17.
- ^ a b Rasgon, Adam (18 March 2024). "Who was Marwan Issa, the Hamas commander killed by Israel?". The New York Times.
- ^ Vasilyeva, Nataliya (2024-03-11). "Hamas leader 'Shadow Man' may have been killed in Israeli air strike". The Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 2024-11-03.
- ^ Al-Mughrabi, Nidal (19 March 2024). "Hamas' No 3, reported dead, was 'nightmare' for Israel". Reuters.
- ^ a b Fabian, Emanuel (26 March 2024). "IDF confirms Marwan Issa, Hamas's No. 3, was killed in central Gaza strike". The Times of Israel.
- ^ Rasgon, Adam (2024-03-11). "Israel Says It Targeted Marwan Issa, a Top Hamas Leader in Gaza". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2024-03-17.
- ^ "Reports: Ministers told signs point to successful hit on Hamas number 3 Marwan Issa". The Times of Israel. March 16, 2024.
- ^ Magid, Jacob (March 18, 2024). "US confirms Israel killed Hamas no 3 Marwan Issa". The Times of Israel. Retrieved March 19, 2024.
- ^ "Israel Gaza: US reports death of senior Hamas military leader Marwan Issa". BBC News. 2024-03-18. Retrieved 2024-11-03.
- ^ "US says that senior Hamas figure Marwan Issa was killed". The Guardian. 19 March 2024.
- ^ "Israel claims senior Hamas commander Marwan Issa killed in Gaza strike". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 2024-11-03.