Ahmad Al-Ja'bari – From Fatah To The 'Izz Al-Din Al-Qassam Brigades

by MEMRI



Ahmad Al-Ja'bari was born in 1960 in the Al-Shuja'iyya neighborhood in Gaza, to a Palestinian family from Hebron. As a young man he was a member of Fatah, and in 1982-1995 he served a 13-year prison sentence for his activity in this organization. After meeting Hamas leaders in prison, he underwent an ideological reversal and joined Hamas. Following his release he was active in the movement's department for prisoner affairs, and later he assumed a prominent position in the Hamas-founded political party Al-Khalas Al-Islami. 

Arrested by the PA authorities in 1998 for involvement in military activity, he again spent two years in prison, where he formed close ties with Hamas explosives expert 'Adnan Al-Ghoul. After Saleh Shehade, the founder of the 'Izz Al-Din Al-Qassam Brigades (Hamas's military wing), was eliminated by Israel in 2002, and the Brigades' commander, Muhammad Deif, was severely injured in an Israeli targeted attack in 2003, Al-Ja'bari became the acting commander of this force, though officially he was its deputy commander.


Ahmad Al-Ja'bari[1]

Building The Hamas Military Infrastructure

Al-Ja'bari's main contribution to Hamas was in developing its military wing  into a well-equipped regular army. Hamas spokesman Fawzi Barhoum said: "He developed the Al-Qassam Brigades and laid down a real infrastructure [of this force] in the West Bank before the PA eliminated the resistance there."[2] In the last interview he gave before his death, he told an Egyptian TV channel: "I am now assured regarding Hamas. I have established a powerful army, and Allah granted me [the privilege of] concluding the Wafa Al-Ahrar deal [i.e., the Shalit deal]."[3]

Role In The Hamas Political Leadership

Though he was mainly active in the organization's military wing, Al-Ja'bari gradually gained prominence in its political leadership as well. Considered a Gaza strong man, he was close to Hamas political bureau head Khaled Mash'al, and maintained direct contact with him over the heads of the movement's political leadership in Gaza. In the recent internal Hamas elections, he was elected to the movement's political bureau in Gaza, along with several other Al-Qassam operatives and prisoners released in the Shalit deal, which reflects his popularity and influence in the Hamas movement.

Al-Ja'bari Following The Shalit Deal: We Will Continue Kidnapping Soldiers

Al-Ja'bari made few public statements and appearances, and is known mainly for his involvement in the abduction and holding of Gilad Shalit and for conducting the indirect negotiations with Israel for his release. He appeared briefly on television as he escorted Shalit to the Rafah crossing.


 
Al-Ja'bari escorting Shalit to the Rafah crossing[4] 

The deal, in which the kidnapped Israeli soldier was exchanged for 1027 prisoners, made him well-known throughout the world. Later he said that the day of the deal's implementation had been the happiest in his life, and promised: "The abductions of Israeli soldiers and officers will continue as long as there are Palestinian prisoners in the jails of the occupation."[5] 

Praise For Jihad And Resistance; Palestine From The River To The Sea

In a 2005 interview with Reuters Al-Ja'bari said: "Jihad and resistance are the only way to liberate the homeland, not negotiations or bargaining... Ultimately Allah will grant us victory."[6] In a letter published at the end of Ramadan 2010, Al-Ja'bari wrote that "the occupation army [had been] banished from Gaza forever thanks to the power of faith, the martyrs, the weapons, the rockets, and the tunnels." He condemned "negotiations with the Zionist enemy" and stressed "the commitment of the 'Izz Al-Din Al-Qassam Brigades to Palestine from the [Jordan] river to the [Mediterranean] sea, and to its capital, Jerusalem, all of which is Islamic land."[7]

Expected To Die As A Martyr

It is unclear why Ahmad Al-Ja'bari chose to travel by car, which enabled the targeted killing, since he was known to take strict precautions. Hamas official Ghazi Hamad said: "Al-Ja'bari dedicated his life to resistance against the occupation, which he endorsed as [the only] option [for achieving] liberation. He was very cautious in his movements and made sure to not appear at [public] events."[8] His aide, who asked to remain anonymous, said: "[Al-Ja'bari] talked of martyrdom often, but he felt the Israelis were waiting for him to complete the [Gilad] Shalit deal."[9]

From The MEMRI TV Archives: "Hamas 'Izz Al-Din Al-Qassam Brigades - Training and Ideology," Including Interview With Al-Ja'bari

On July 4, 2006 Al-Jazeera TV broadcast a lengthy report about Hamas's 'Izz Al-Din Al-Qassam Brigades, which included an interview with Ahmad Al-Ja'bari. To view MEMRI TV's translation of this clip, visit http://www.memritv.org/clip/en/1191.htm.

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[1] Al-Quds (Jerusalem), November 15, 2012.

[2] Elaph.com, November 14, 2012.

[3] Elwattannews.com, November 14, 2012.

[4] Alwatanvoice.com, October 29, 2011.

[5] Amad.ps, October 22, 2012.

[6] Al-Quds (Jerusalem), November 15, 2012.

[7] Alqassam.ps, September 14, 2010.

[8] Elaph.com, November 14, 2012.

[9] Al-Quds (Jerusalem), November 15, 2012.

MEMRI

Source:memri@memri.org

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