Abu Samhadana
Encyclopedia
Jamal Abu Samhadana from Rafah
in the Gaza Strip
, was the founder of the Popular Resistance Committees
(which have been held responsible for firing missiles into Israel), a former Fatah
and Tanzim
member, and number two on Israel
's list of wanted terrorists. On 20 April 2006 he was appointed by Said Seyam
, Interior Minister of the Palestinian National Authority
's new Hamas-led government
, as director general of the police forces in the Interior Ministry.
In April 2006, Samhadana was quoted as saying that 'Jews are the "only enemy", and that he will "carry a rifle" and "pull the trigger" to defend the Palestinian people'.
The appointment "sparked new criticism from the U.S. and Israel and intensified the struggle for control of some 70,000 Palestinian security forces" between Hamas
and President Mahmoud Abbas
. Abbas subsequently issued a decree preventing the formation of the force that Abu Samhadana was to have headed. However, Hamas defied the President's veto and proceeded with the nomination.
Abu Samhadana survived an Israeli missile strike in the Gaza Strip in December 2004.
On June 8 2006, Samhadana was killed in a targeted killing
, along with at least three other PRC members, by four missiles fired by Israeli Apache helicopters, guided by Israeli reconnaissance drones, at a PRC camp in Rafah
. The Israeli military said the militants were planning a large-scale attack on Israel.
Rafah
Rafah , also known as Rafiah, is a Palestinian city in the southern Gaza Strip. Located south of Gaza, Rafah's population of 71,003 is overwhelmingly made up of Palestinian refugees. Rafah camp and Tall as-Sultan form separate localities. Rafah is the district capital of the Rafah Governorate...
in the Gaza Strip
Gaza Strip
thumb|Gaza city skylineThe Gaza Strip lies on the Eastern coast of the Mediterranean Sea. The Strip borders Egypt on the southwest and Israel on the south, east and north. It is about long, and between 6 and 12 kilometres wide, with a total area of...
, was the founder of the Popular Resistance Committees
Popular Resistance Committees
The Popular Resistance Committees are a coalition of various armed Palestinian factions that oppose the conciliatory approach adopted by the Palestinian Authority and Fatah towards Israel...
(which have been held responsible for firing missiles into Israel), a former Fatah
Fatah
Fataḥ is a major Palestinian political party and the largest faction of the Palestine Liberation Organization , a multi-party confederation. In Palestinian politics it is on the left-wing of the spectrum; it is mainly nationalist, although not predominantly socialist. Its official goals are found...
and Tanzim
Tanzim
Tanzim is a militant faction of the Palestinian Fatah movement.-Overview:The Tanzim militia, founded in 1995 to counter Palestinian Islamism, is widely considered to be an armed offshoot of Fatah with its own leadership structure...
member, and number two on Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
's list of wanted terrorists. On 20 April 2006 he was appointed by Said Seyam
Said Seyam
Said Seyam was the Interior Minister of the Palestinian government of March 2006. He joined Hamas, and became one of its top commanders. During the Gaza War, Seyam was killed in an Israeli airstrike in Jabalia.-Personal life:...
, Interior Minister of the Palestinian National Authority
Interior Minister of the Palestinian National Authority
The Interior Ministry of the Palestinian National Authority is the branch of the Palestinian National Authority cabinet in charge of the security and statistics of the Palestinian people. The Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics is a sub-branch of the Interior Ministry that has the...
's new Hamas-led government
Palestinian government of March 2007
The Palestinian national unity government formed on March 17, 2007 was a Palestinian cabinet headed by Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniya, founded following Saudi-sponsored negotiations in Mecca. On June 14 2007, Following the Hamas military takeover of the Gaza Strip, Palestinian President...
, as director general of the police forces in the Interior Ministry.
In April 2006, Samhadana was quoted as saying that 'Jews are the "only enemy", and that he will "carry a rifle" and "pull the trigger" to defend the Palestinian people'.
The appointment "sparked new criticism from the U.S. and Israel and intensified the struggle for control of some 70,000 Palestinian security forces" between Hamas
Hamas
Hamas is the Palestinian Sunni Islamic or Islamist political party that governs the Gaza Strip. Hamas also has a military wing, the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades...
and President Mahmoud Abbas
Mahmoud Abbas
Mahmoud Abbas , also known by the kunya Abu Mazen , has been the Chairman of the Palestine Liberation Organisation since 11 November 2004 and became President of the Palestinian National Authority on 15 January 2005 on the Fatah ticket.Elected to serve until 9 January 2009, he unilaterally...
. Abbas subsequently issued a decree preventing the formation of the force that Abu Samhadana was to have headed. However, Hamas defied the President's veto and proceeded with the nomination.
Abu Samhadana survived an Israeli missile strike in the Gaza Strip in December 2004.
On June 8 2006, Samhadana was killed in a targeted killing
Targeted killing
Targeted killing is the deliberate, specific targeting and killing, by a government or its agents, of a supposed terrorist or of a supposed "unlawful combatant" who is not in that government's custody...
, along with at least three other PRC members, by four missiles fired by Israeli Apache helicopters, guided by Israeli reconnaissance drones, at a PRC camp in Rafah
Rafah
Rafah , also known as Rafiah, is a Palestinian city in the southern Gaza Strip. Located south of Gaza, Rafah's population of 71,003 is overwhelmingly made up of Palestinian refugees. Rafah camp and Tall as-Sultan form separate localities. Rafah is the district capital of the Rafah Governorate...
. The Israeli military said the militants were planning a large-scale attack on Israel.
External links
- On Patrol with the Killer Israel Dreads Hala Jaber, Sunday Times, 29 December, 2002.
Video
- Hamas sets out vision for future, BBC News OnlineBBC News OnlineBBC News Online is the website of BBC News, the division of the BBC responsible for newsgathering and production. The website is the most popular news website in the United Kingdom and forms a major part of BBC Online ....
, 27 March, 2006.