Ahmed Jabari
Ahmed Jabari | |
---|---|
أحمد الجعبري | |
Born | 1960 Military Commander |
Ahmed al-Jabari
While at the
The
Early life and education
Jabari was born to an activist family based in the
Hamas
After his release, in 1995 Jabari began to act as a commander in the military wing of the Hamas.
On 26 September 2002, after an Israeli airstrike wounded Mohammed Deif, the leader of Hamas's principal armed wing, the
On 17 August 2004, Jabari's eldest son Mohammed, his brother and three of his cousins were killed in an Israeli air strike against Jabari's home in Gaza in an assassination attempt against him.[6][14] He escaped the attack unhurt.[14] He stated in a 2005 interview with Reuters that "Jihad and resistance" were the "only ways to liberate the homeland, and not negotiation and bargains."[19]
Jabari was in charge of overseeing the captivity of Gilad Shalit who was kidnapped by Palestinian militants in 2006 outside of the Gaza Strip; two other soldiers were killed.[20] According to the Israeli government, Jabari played a leading role in Hamas' takeover of the Gaza Strip from the Fatah-led Palestinian Authority in June 2007.[3][6][8][21]
During Israel's offensive
When a
Jabari was also instrumental in enforcing ceasefires from the Palestinian side, which included restricting rival militants groups from firing rockets and missiles.[27][28] In addition to his activities given above, Jabari served as a member of the group's political leadership.[11] He also founded Nur, which is an association to assist 'martyrs and prisoners.'[11]
According to Gershon Baskin, who helped negotiate with Hamas for Gilad Shalit's release but did not speak to Jabari directly, Jabari had come to understand that continuing hostilities with Israel harmed both Hamas and the people of the Gaza Strip, and had worked hard on several occasions to prevent Hamas rocket and missile attacks on Israel. When such Hamas attacks took place, they were intentionally fired in order to deter Israel for taking military action against the group. Baskin also said that Jabari "was in line to die, not an angel and not a righteous man of peace."[29] Baskin also claimed that Jabari received a draft of a long-term ceasefire or truce agreement with Israel only hours prior to his assassination.[30]
Elhanan Miller, in The Times of Israel writes, "Baskin, who says he played a key role in negotiating for the release of kidnapped Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit last year, said Jabari would not meet with him, despite several requests during the Shalit talks. 'Jabari would never have direct contact with an Israeli', noting that he communicated with Jabari through Hamas official and spokesman Ghazi Hamad."[31] Benjamin Kerstein wrote in The Times of Israel that Baskin's claims were in all likelihood not true, mainly because Israel would not involve someone like Baskin in important peace talks.[32]
Death and funeral
Jabari was extremely cautious with his personal safety, very rarely making public appearances[6][11] and not carrying a telephone. He always used couriers to relay his messages to other Hamas leaders.[33] These steps were taken to avoid any assassination attempt since he escaped five such attacks unhurt.[14]
However, on 14 November 2012, he was killed by an
Jabari was buried on 15 November 2012.[41] According to Al Jazeera English correspondent Rula Amin, Jabari was "considered a hero" by the people of Gaza.[37] Thousands of mourners attended his funeral procession which began at the Shifa Hospital,[42] passed his home, then reached the Great Mosque of Gaza for mourning prayers. The procession ended at the Sheikh Radwan cemetery in the northern part of the city where Jabari was buried.[43]
Reactions
Hamas' Lebanon spokesman
Egypt recalled its ambassador to Israel in protest of the attacks on the Gaza Strip and the killing of Jabari.
Personal life
Jabari had two wives and six children.[6][14] Jabari's eldest son, Mohammed, died during a 2004 Israeli airstrike.[48] Mohamed was married to Salah Shehade's daughter.[2]
Notes
- ^ Also spelled Jaabari, Ja'bari or Ja'abari.
References
- ^ a b "Obituary: Ahmad al-Jaabari (1960–2012)". Ma'an. Archived from the original on 16 November 2012. Retrieved 16 November 2012.
- ^ a b Bartal, Shaul (18 November 2012). "Hamas and the 'Islamic Winter'". Maariv. Retrieved 13 December 2012.
- ^ a b c d "Hamas Terrorist Ahmed Jabari". Consulate General of Israel in New York. 15 November 2012. Retrieved 15 November 2012.
- ^ "Arms With a Long Reach Help Hamas". The New York Times. 17 November 2012. Retrieved 18 November 2012.
- ^ Chabin, Michele (14 November 2012). "Israelis brace for attacks after Hamas leader killed". USA Today. Jerusalem. Retrieved 17 November 2012.
- ^ a b c d e f g "Shalit swap brings shadowy Hamas man to the fore". Al-Arabiya. Agence France-Presse. 25 October 2011. Archived from the original on 20 December 2011. Retrieved 19 December 2011.
- ^ a b Levy, Elior (14 November 2012). "IDF kills top Hamas commander". Ynet News. Retrieved 14 November 2012.
- ^ a b c d e f Isabel Kershner; Fares Akram (15 November 2012). "Israeli Assault into Gaza Kills A Hamas Leader". The New York Times. p. A1.
- ^ 'Why did Israel kill Jabari?,' Haaretz 4 December 2012.
- ^ "Israel Intensifies Gaza Air Strikes". Voice of America. 15 November 2012. Retrieved 15 November 2012.
- ^ a b c d e "Ahmed Jaabari: elusive Hamas military chief". The Jordan Times. Agence France-Presse. 14 November 2012. Archived from the original on 16 November 2012. Retrieved 17 November 2012.
- ^ a b Winer, Stuart (14 November 2012). "Ahmed Jabari: The ruthless terror chief whose bloody end was only a matter of time". The Times of Israel. Retrieved 18 November 2012.
- ^ a b c Khoury, Jack (14 November 2012). "Who was Ahmed Jabari?". Haaretz. Retrieved 10 December 2012.
- ^ a b c d e f g h "The Maestro of Difficult Missions" (PDF). The Majalla. 1530: 40–41. 30 October 2009. Archived from the original (PDF) on 15 July 2012. Retrieved 11 April 2013.
- ISBN 978-0-231-70045-0.
- ^ Ginsburgh, Mitch (14 November 2012). "Ahmed Jabari: The ruthless terror chief whose bloody end was only a matter of time". The Times of Israel. Retrieved 10 December 2012.
- ^ "How Israel killed Ahmed Jabari, its toughest enemy in Gaza". The Telegraph. Retrieved 17 November 2012.
- Israel HaYom. Retrieved 17 November 2012.
- Yahoo News. Retrieved 15 November 2012.
- ^ "Hamas military chief Ahmed Jabari killed by Israeli strike". Haaretz. Retrieved 14 November 2012.
- ^ Issacharoff, Avi (2 July 2007). "Hamas fires Qassams for first time since Gaza takeover". Haaretz. Retrieved 8 February 2010.
- ^ "Israel is 'nearing Gaza goals'". BBC News. 11 January 2009. Retrieved 14 January 2009.
- ^ Rockets, mortars fired at southern Israel. United Press International. 15 September 2010.
- ^ "Profile of a terrorist: Ahmed Jabari". The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 14 November 2012.
- ^ Issacharoff, Avi (20 October 2011). "Shalit's captors: He wasn't tortured, he received medical care and watched TV". Haaretz.
- ^ "Elections for Hamas' Leading Institutions in the Gaza Strip – Results and Significance" (PDF). The Meir Amid Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center. Retrieved 25 November 2012.
- ^ Baskin, Gershon (16 November 2012). "Israel's Shortsighted Assassination". The New York Times. Retrieved 18 November 2012.
- ^ Murphy, Dan (14 November 2012). "Is Hamas responsible for Gaza rocket fire? Not exactly". The Christian Monitor. Retrieved 18 November 2012.
- ^ Nir Hasson, Israeli peace activist: Hamas leader Jabari killed amid talks on long-term truce, Haaretz, 15 November 2012.
- ^ "Gaza: Assassinated Hamas Leader Ahmed Jabari 'Was Canvassing' Truce Agreement with Israel". International Business Times. 15 November 2012. Retrieved 16 November 2012.
- ^ Elhanan Miller, 'Israeli involved in talks with Hamas says Jabari supported long-term ceasefire,' The Times of Israel, 15 November 2012
- ^ Kerstein, Benjamin (19 November 2012). "Jabari a peacemaker? Baskin's tall tales and media gullibility". The Times of Israel.
- ^ Starr, Stephen (16 November 2012). "Drones in the sky, informers on the ground helped Israel track Hamas military chief". National Post. Archived from the original on 30 January 2013. Retrieved 17 November 2012.
- ^ Yossi Arazi and Gal Perl Finkel, Integrating Technologies to Protect the Home Front against Ballistic Threats and Cruise Missiles Archived 4 October 2016 at the Wayback Machine, "Military and Strategic Affairs", Volume 5, No. 3, December 2013.
- ^ And AP, Times of Israel Staff. "Rockets hit homes in south as fire continues for second day". Times of Israel. Retrieved 11 November 2012.
- ^ "Q&A: Israel-Gaza violence". BBC News. 20 November 2012.
- ^ a b c "Hamas military chief killed in Israeli attack". Al Jazeera English. 14 November 2012. Retrieved 15 November 2012.
- ^ a b c "Israeli air strike kills Hamas military chief Jabari". BBC. November 2012. Retrieved 15 November 2012.
- ^ "Israeli air strike kills top Hamas commander Jabari". The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 14 November 2012.
- ^ Levy, Elior (18 November 2012). "Jabari widow: He was a good husband". Ynet. Retrieved 13 December 2012.
- ^ "Hamas remain defiant as Israeli strikes hit Gaza". Euronews. 15 November 2012. Archived from the original on 31 October 2020. Retrieved 15 November 2012.
- YNet. 15 November 2012.
- ^ Sherwood, Harriet. Gaza violence: dejection and defiance as Palestinians bury their dead. The Guardian. 15 November 2012.
- ^ a b Armed groups vow response to assassination of Hamas leader[permanent dead link]. Ma'an News Agency. 14 November 2012.
- ^ "Egypt recalls ambassador from Israel over Gaza attacks". Maan News. Archived from the original on 24 November 2012. Retrieved 15 November 2012.
- ^ "Qatar wants Israel punished for Gaza attacks". Reuters. 14 November 2012. Retrieved 15 November 2012.
- ^ "Rocket attack on Tel Aviv took Israel by surprise: Hezbollah". The Daily Star. 15 November 2012. Retrieved 16 November 2012.
- ^ Trifunov, David (14 November 2012). "Ahmed Jabari: Hamas leader took all efforts to remain hidden". Global Post. Reuters. Retrieved 10 December 2012.