The Al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas, confirmed in a televised speech on Monday, December 29, that five of its military commanders were assassinated by Israel over the past several months in the Gaza strip.
The assassinated commanders include:
- Al-Qassam’s late chief of staff, Mohammad Sinwar (also known as Abu Ibrahim).
- The commander of the Rafah Brigade, Mohammad Shabanah (also known as Abu Anas).
- Veteran commander, Hakam Al-Issa (also known as Abu Omar), who assumed leadership responsibilities in different military arenas such as training, qualification, and the transfer of combat expertise.
- The head of Al-Qassam’s weapons production headquarters in the Gaza Strip, Raed Saad (also known as Abu Mouath).
- The spokesperson of Al-Qassam Brigades, who was for over two decades known by his nom de guerre as Abu Obaida, and whose real name was revealed for the first time by Hamas, on Monday, as Hudhaifa Samir Abdullah al-Kahlout.
Al-Qassam appoints new spokesperson, passing on the name Abu Obaida
The televised speech in which the late resistance leaders were mourned was given by the new spokesperson of the Al-Qassam Brigades, who declared that he inherited the nom de guerre of his predecessor, Abu Obaida.
Al-Qassam has apparently decided to give the same name to its new spokesperson in order to maintain the morale of its fighters, and that of the Palestinian grassroots, who have always considered the speeches of the late spokesperson a source of motivation and reassurance.
The new Abu Obaida calls on “those concerned” to restrain Israel
The newly appointed spokesperson of Al-Qassam urged those “who may be concerned” to restrain the Israeli occupation, and force it to commit to the US-brokered ceasefire deal in place.
He further called for the disarming of Israel, which has used its lethal weapons in the ongoing genocide against the Palestinian people in the Gaza strip, and the aggression on the peoples of other countries across West Asia.
The new Abu Obaida also warned of the escalating Israeli assaults in the occupied West Bank, the Al-Aqsa Mosque, and Palestinian prisoners.
Read more: Israel reveals settlement plan in northern Gaza after committing over 857 ceasefire violations
Moreover, he encouraged Palestinians and all people of conscience over the globe to continue their solidarity with the people of Gaza on the legal, political, and popular levels.
Dozens die in Gaza due to harsh weather conditions amid deadlock in talks
The speech of the new spokesperson came amid extremely adverse conditions in the Gaza Strip, where almost two million people have been without shelter during the coldest months of the year, as negotiations on phase two of the ceasefire deal seem to have reached a deadlock.
Read more: Israeli restrictions fuel medicine shortage and health crisis in Gaza
At least 25 people, including six children, died in the war-torn enclave due to the harsh weather conditions since the beginning of December, according to local sources.
These conditions also resulted in the complete collapse of 18 residential buildings previously damaged by Israeli shelling.
Meanwhile, 110 other residential buildings were partially damaged, endangering the lives of thousands of citizens, who live inside them or in their surroundings.
The post Hamas confirms the assassination of Abu Obaida and four other Al-Qassam commanders appeared first on Peoples Dispatch.
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