December 29, 2014 Additional findings in the examination of the names of Palestinians killed in Operation Protective Edge - Part Eight1 Bishari Ziad Ahmad (left) and Hassan Mohammad al-Hindi (right), two operatives of the Hamas naval commando, killed in Israeli territory in a battle with IDF forces after landing in the area of Zikim. Hamas refrains from including the names of its 14 operatives who were killed infiltrating the area of Zikim and Nir-Am (in the northern Gaza Strip) in its lists of those killed in Operation Protective Edge. This despite the fact that in its affiliated media channels, Hamas has publicized specific information about the dead and the circumstances of their deaths and has made use of these incidents for propaganda purposes, to glorify its military capabilities. Overview Hamas operatives whose names were not included in the Palestinian lists of fatalities in Operation Protective Edge 1. During the examination of the names of Palestinians killed in Operation Protective Edge carried out by the Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center (ITIC), 50 names of terrorists were identified, all of whom were Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades operatives, who did not appear on the various Palestinian 1Further to the ITIC Information Bulletin from December 8, 2014: "Examination of the names of Palestinians killed in Operation Protective Edge - Part Seven." 200-14 2 lists of fatalities issued by entities affiliated with Hamas and the Palestinian Authority (for the nature of the various lists, see below). 2. In the ITIC's assessment, the dead terrorists whose names were not included on the various Palestinian lists fall into several categories: bodies of terrorists that remained in Israeli territory after clashes with IDF forces; bodies that remained buried in tunnels that were blown up or under the ruins of buildings that were attacked by the IDF; bodies of terrorists who died of their injuries in hospitals and bodies that could not be identified during the operation and when the lists were published. Therefore, the ITIC believes that the 50 names that it has identified are only a partial list and that there are still many other terrorist operatives whose names were not included on the various lists of fatalities. 3. Prominent among the fatalities whose names were not included on the various Palestinian lists are operatives who belonged to elite units of the Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades (Al-Nukhba and the naval commando). Those missing from the Palestinian lists include, among others, four operatives in the Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades naval commando who were killed in Israeli territory while infiltrating the area of Kibbutz Zikim by sea (July 8, 2014). Also missing from the Palestinian lists are 10 Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades operatives killed in Israeli territory while infiltrating the area of Kibbutz Nir-Am (July 21, 2014). This indicates that Hamas deliberately refrains from including the names of terrorist operatives whose bodies are in Israeli hands (nearly 20) in the lists of fatalities in Operation Protective Edge. This despite the fact that in its affiliated media channels and social networks, Hamas has publicized specific information about the dead in Kibbutz Zikim and Nir-Am and the circumstances of their deaths (see Appendix A). 4. The exclusion of many names of operatives - mainly Hamas operatives - on the Palestinian lists of fatalities, and Hamas's failure to issue a comprehensive and upto-date list of fatalities, stem from Hamas's policy of concealment, which is designed to serve the political, propaganda and lawfare campaign against Israel. On the other hand, Hamas makes internal use of the deaths of operatives whose names are not included in the various official and unofficial lists, by publishing detailed information about the dead and the circumstances of their deaths. The purpose is to please the families of the dead, glorify Hamas's military 200-14 3 capabilities and establish the myth of the "victory" over Israel (see Appendices A and B).2 The number of Palestinians killed in Operation Protective Edge and the ratio between involved terrorists and non-involved civilians (findings of an examination by a security source) 5. According to an examination of the names of Palestinians killed in Operation Protective Edge, carried out by an Israeli security source, 2,140 Palestinians were killed in Operation Protective Edge. This figure includes the names of terrorist operatives that Hamas refrained from including on the lists of those killed in the operation, as part of its policy of concealment. It is highly likely that this figure also includes Palestinians who died of natural causes or in accidents during Operation Protective Edge. Additional fatalities may be added to this figure once the bodies found under the rubble in the various battle sites have been identified (the findings of the examination are up-to-date as of December 21, 2014). 6. According to the findings of the examination performed by the aforementioned security source, the fatalities in Operation Protective Edge can be divided into three categories: A. Category A, which includes at least 886 fatalities who have been identified as terrorist operatives. Most of them are Hamas operatives (590 operatives, representing about 67% of the terrorist operatives killed). The other organization with a significant number of fatalities is the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) (197 fatalities, representing about 22% of the terrorist operatives killed). The remaining fatalities (99, representing 11% of the terrorist operatives killed) belonged to a number of small terrorist groups operating in the Gaza Strip.3 2 Hezbollah employs a similar media tactic for the hundreds of its operatives who were killed in battle against the rebels in Syria, albeit for other considerations. Hezbollah publishes detailed information about the dead and holds funerals attended by many participants, which receive extensive media coverage. However, it refrains from publishing official, comprehensive and authorized data about the number of fatalities, so as not to increase the internal criticism in Lebanon against it for its involvement in the civil war in Syria. For further information, see the ITIC's Information Bulletin from April 22, 2014: "Hezbollah's Involvement in the Civil War in Syria: Hezbollah regards the takeover of Yabrud as a security and morale-boosting achievement, costing the organization relatively few losses." These organizations include Fatah networks in the Gaza Strip, the Popular Resistance Committees (PRC), the PFLP, Salafist-jihadi networks, and more. 3 200-14 4 B. Category B, which includes at least 712 fatalities who have been identified as non-involved civilians. Of these, 345 children and 268 women have been identified. The names of the women and children up to age 15 were automatically included in the category of non-involved civilians, although there have been incidents in which terrorist organizations involved teenage boys and women in fighting the IDF. C. Category C, which includes 542 fatalities whose status (i.e., terrorist operatives or non-involved civilians) could not be determined so far. There is potential for additional information that will enable the identification of some of the fatalities included in this category as terrorist operatives or as civilians who provided logistical support to terrorist operatives (without formally belonging to one of the terrorist organizations). 7. The number of fatalities whose names have identified by the aforementioned security source (i.e., the first two categories) is 1,598 (about 75% of the fatalities). Of the fatalities who could be identified, about 55% are terrorist operatives, most of them Hamas operatives, and about 45% are non-involved civilians. These findings are similar to the interim findings of the examination carried out by the ITIC, which is based on 1,165 names of fatalities (representing about 54% of the names). According to the findings of the ITIC, terrorist operatives represent about 52% of the names of the fatalities who have been identified, and non-involved civilians represent about 48% (this ratio may change in the future).4 The Palestinian lists of the fatalities in Operation Protective Edge and the differences between them 8. According to Dr. Ashraf al-Qudra, the Palestinian Health Ministry spokesman in the Gaza Strip, 2,157 Palestinians were killed in Operation Protective Edge (Al-Quds AlArabi, September 14, 2014). A similar number of fatalities (2,145) was reported in October 2014 by the Health Ministry of the Palestinian Authority in Ramallah. Out of the total number of 2,157 fatalities, Dr. Ashraf al-Qudra and the Palestinian Health Ministry published a basic list including the names of 1,032 fatalities. Two additional supplementary lists appeared in Hamas bulletins in the Gaza Strip: a list of 1,281 names in the newspaper Felesteen, and a list of 1,452 names in the newspaper Al-Rai. Thus, during the operation, two organs in the Gaza Strip 4 See the ITIC's Information Bulletin from December 8, 2014: "Examination of the names of Palestinians killed in Operation Protective Edge - Part Seven." 200-14 5 affiliated with Hamas published lists that included the names of about twothirds of the Palestinian fatalities in Operation Protective Edge. 9. The only list that pertains to the total number of fatalities was published by the Palestinian Health Ministry in Ramallah, via the Palestinian News Agency (WAFA), on September 14, 2014 (about two and a half weeks after the end of Operation Protective Edge). The list includes the names of 2,128 fatalities (i.e., almost all of the fatalities), along with the ID numbers of most of them, and the date and place of death. In general, the list was arranged in chronological order, but this became harder and harder to maintain towards the end of Operation Protective Edge. During the two and a half months that have passed since then, an updated list of fatalities was not issued, despite the fact that in the meantime, the identity of many other terrorist operatives, whose names were not listed, has been clarified. 10. In the ITIC's assessment, the list published by the Palestinian Health Ministry relies largely on Hamas's basic lists published in the Gaza Strip, to which names that do not appear in the Gazan lists have been added. The advantage of this list is that it is the only comprehensive list, as opposed to the partial lists issued by Hamasaffiliated entities. However, the degree of reliability of the list published in Ramallah is lower than that of the lists published by the Hamas-controlled entities, since it was compiled and published after the fact by a secondary source that relied on subsources in the Gaza Strip, whose reliability is doubtful. 11. Hamas, on its part, has refrained from publishing a final authorized list of the casualties of Operation Protective Edge, despite the fact that it may need to do so (for example, in order to pay the families of the shahids). Why, then, did Hamas make do with publishing only partial lists of names of those killed in Operation Protective Edge and refrain from publishing a comprehensive and authorized list including all the names of the dead at the end of the operation? In the ITIC's assessment, there are two reasons for this, one technical and the other political: A. Technically, Hamas officials had trouble dealing with the significant increase in the number of fatalities the longer the fighting continued. Evidence during the operation indicated a large number of bodies on the ground and in hospitals, making it difficult to obtain, identify and document the information about the fatalities in real time (or shortly thereafter). This was reflected in the poor quality of the basic lists issued by Hamas-affiliated entities, which are characterized by disorder and negligence. 200-14 6 B. Politically, after disseminating around two-thirds of the names of the fatalities, Hamas had exhausted the assimilation of the message that most of the fatalities were non-involved civilians, for the purpose of the political, propaganda, and lawfare campaign against Israel. The United Nations, human rights organizations and international media relied in many cases on the incomplete and biased information published by the Hamas-controlled Palestinian Health Ministry. Thus, from Hamas's perspective, continuing to publish the names of those killed would not have been politically advantageous; On the contrary ­ it might have obligated Hamas to provide explanations about the "disappearance" of many of its operatives who did not appear on the lists of fatalities due to Hamas's policy of concealment. 12. Following is a table summarizing the various lists of Palestinians killed in Operation Protective Edge: Nature of the list Type of list or lists Number of fatalities whose names are listed Remarks Hamas-affiliated lists, which were published in the Gaza Strip during the first half of Operation Protective Edge Lists issued by the Hamas- 1,032 controlled Palestinian Health Ministry in the Gaza Strip. The lists were published by the ministry spokesman, Dr. Ashraf alQudra. These are the basic lists that have served as the basis for the ITIC's examinations to date. These lists include 1,032 names. Subsequently, Dr. Al-Qudra reported specific names and general figures but did not publish a comprehensive and authorized list of all the names of the dead. The Hamas organ 1,281 Felesteen, published in the Gaza Strip The list is updated to July 19, 2014. It is based on Dr. AlQudra's basic lists plus additional names. The list is updated to August 11, 2014. It is based on Dr. Al-Qudra's basic lists plus additional names. This is the most comprehensive list published 200-14 The Hamas organ and the news agency Al-Rai in the 1,452 Gaza Strip List issued by the Palestinian List issued by the Palestinian Authority's 2,128 7 Authority's Health Ministry after Operation Protective Edge5 Health Ministry in Ramallah, distributed by the Palestinian News Agency (WAFA) after the operation, on September 14, 2014. It is based on lists of names of those killed that appeared on Dr. Ashraf al-Qudra's lists and in the Hamas organs, plus additional names. Summary 13. The absence of an authorized and comprehensive basic list, the existence of a number of lists of fatalities issued at different times by entities with differing interests, the lack of transparency regarding the manner in which the names of those killed were included in the lists and the discrepancies between the various lists - all pose many difficulties in the examination of the names of the Palestinian fatalities in Operation Protective Edge. This state of affairs serves Hamas's policy of concealment, which aims to highlight the number and proportion of noninvolved civilians killed during the operation. As a result, many entities, including UN agencies, human rights organizations and the international media, rely on unreliable and often incomplete Palestinian lists and on biased and unreliable information designed to attack Israel. Appendices 14. Two appendices are attached: A. Appendix A - Hamas operatives killed while infiltrating into Israeli territory in the area of Zikim and Nir-Am, whose names are not included in the Palestinian lists of fatalities. B. fatalities. Appendix B - additional Hamas operatives killed in Operation Protective Edge, whose names are not included in the Palestinian lists of 5 In addition to this list, incomplete lists were published in Judea and Samaria which, in the ITIC's assessment, do not embody any advantage over the lists published by the Palestinian Health Ministry and by the Hamas-affiliated entities. One is a list of 1,404 names, published by Ajyal Radio (Ramallah), updated to August 5, 2014. The other is a list of 1,101 names, published by the Al-Kufiya network (affiliated with Fatah / Muhammad Dahlan), updated to August 25, 2014. 200-14 8 Appendix A Hamas operatives killed while infiltrating into Israeli territory in the area of Zikim and Nir-Am, whose names are not included in the Palestinian lists Five terrorists killed while infiltrating into the area of Zikim 1. On July 8, 2014, at about 18:00, at the start of Operation Protective Edge, the Israel Navy identified suspicious movement. This led to the discovery of a squad of armed terrorists attempting to infiltrate into Israel by sea in the area of Zikim. The members of the squad, who came with the intention of carrying out a terrorist attack, came on shore. They encountered an IDF force dispatched to the site and opened fire on it. In the exchange of fire, two IDF soldiers were wounded. The ITIC believes that the Hamas force's intention was to attack the IDF force stationed at the site or an Israeli village, in order to cause many losses and help create an "image of victory". (Google maps) 2. A communiqué issued by the military wing of Hamas said that a naval commando force of the military wing raided an Israel Navy base on the coast of the city of Ashkelon. According to the communiqué, the squad leader said that the action was carried out according to plan and that the IDF incurred heavy losses. According to reports by Hamas, the attack was carried out by a squad of five terrorists, members of the Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades naval commando. The 200-14 9 five terrorists who carried out the attack were killed in the exchange of fire with IDF forces. Many weapons were found on their bodies (including RPG launchers, explosives and hand grenades). The Hamas forum listed the names of five operatives of the organization killed in the "Zikim marine operation": Bashar Ahmad, Khaled Talal al-Hilou, Muhammad Abu Dia (Abu Mujahed), Saeed Abu al-Kas, Hassan al-Hindi (paldf.net/forum). List of Hamas fatalities in the "Zikim marine operation" (paldf.net/forum) Left: Two of the terrorists during the attempted attack as documented by IDF cameras (photo: Office of the IDF Spokesperson) Right: Some of the weapons found in the hands of terrorists (photo: probably the Office of the IDF Spokesperson) 3. Of the five killed in the operation in Zikim, four names were not included in the various lists of fatalities, even though Hamas published their photos and detailed information about them and the circumstances of their deaths. One name (the fifth on the attached list) was included in the Palestinian Health Ministry's list issued by 200-14 10 WAFA, but was not included in the lists issued by Hamas-affiliated entities (the Health Ministry, Hamas organs). The reason for this might be the fact that their bodies are not in Hamas's hands. The details: A. Hassan Mohammad al-Hindi: On Facebook he is referred to as "the commander of the infiltration into the Zikim military post, the most professional sniper in Gaza, and the trainer of the Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades frogmen unit" (id-id.fb.me). (Note: According to other versions, another terrorist operative named Bashar Ahmad, who appears in the Hamas forum quoted above, was the commander of the operation). Left: Hassan Mohammad al-Hindi, AKA the "Hero of the Zikim operation" (twitter.com) Right: Zikim operation commander Hassan Mohammad al-Hindi (paldf.net) B. Bashar Ziad Awad Ahmad Left: Bashar Ahmad wearing a wetsuit (facebook.com) Right: Posting issued by the Izz al-Din alQassam Brigades in memory of Bashar Ziad Awad Ahmad (facebook.com) 200-14 11 C. Khaled Talal al-Hilou, Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades naval commando operative Khaled Talal al-Hilou (facebook.com; paldf.net) D. Mohammad Jamil Saeed Abu Dia, Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades naval commando operative Mohammad Jamil Saeed Abu Dia, reading his will in a video produced by the media arm of the Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades (youtube.com) E. Saeed Abu al-Kas: operative in the elite unit of the Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades (Al-Nukhba), who joined the Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades naval commando squad. Detailed information about him was published by Hamas. His name did not appear on the list of fatalities published by the Health Ministry in the Gaza Strip and in Hamas's organs but did appear on the Palestinian Health Ministry's list published by WAFA. 200-14 12 Left: Saeed Abu al-Kas reading his will in a video produced by the media arm of the Izz al-Din alQassam Brigades (youtube.com) Right: Saeed Abu al-Kas (paldf.net) Ten terrorists killed infiltrating into the area of Kibbutz Nir-Am 4. In the early morning hours of July 21, 2014, an Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades force infiltrated into Israeli territory via a tunnel in the northern Gaza Strip. The terrorists emerged from the tunnel near Kibbutz Nir-Am. In the ITIC's assessment, the Hamas force intended to carry out a mass killing attack in an Israeli village or attack IDF forces deployed there. 5. The Hamas force, which included two squads, was discovered by the IDF. An Israel Air Force aircraft attacked the first squad. The second squad of terrorists launched an anti-tank missile at an IDF vehicle. It is evident from the investigation of the incident that the terrorists were wearing IDF uniforms (making it very difficult to identify them). Four IDF officers and soldiers were killed in the attack, when the terrorists opened fire at them. Ten terrorists were also killed, and their bodies were found at the site (IDF Spokesman, July 21, 2014). Two terrorists managed to return to the Gaza Strip. 6. The names of the 10 terrorist operatives killed in the attack were not included in the various Palestinian lists (in the Gaza Strip and Ramallah) even though Hamas has published their names, photos of them, details of their activities and the circumstances of their deaths. The reason for this might be the fact that the bodies of the fatalities are not in Hamas's hands. 200-14 13 - Left: The site of the incident (IDF Spokesman, July 21, 2014) Right: Kibbutz Nir-Am near the city of Sderot, northeast of the Gaza Strip (Google maps) Left: The terrorists attempting to return to the tunnel. Right: Exchange of fire between the terrorists and the IDF force (photos: IDF Spokesman) 7. Following is a list of the 10 terrorists killed in the attack near Kibbutz Nir-Am, as announced by Hamas: A. Bilal Abu Muhadi, Hamas naval commando operative. 200-14 14 Bilal Abu Muhadi (facebook.com) B. Salam (or Abd al-Salam) Maher al-Madhoun, who served in the elite Izz alDin al-Qassam Brigades unit (Al-Nukhba). Salam Maher al-Madhoun (facebook.com) 200-14 15 C. Bashir Hatem Riyan, Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades operative Left: Bashir Hatem Riyan, photographed in the tunnel just moments before emerging from the shaft to carry out the attack (facebook.com) Right: Bashir Hatem Riyan (facebook.com) D. Abd al-Rahman Mohammad Zaher, Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades operative Left: Abd al-Rahman Mohammad Zaher while training or during an operation (alresalah.ps) Right: Abd al-Rahman Mohammad Zaher (facebook.com) 200-14 16 E. Mohammad Ali Huwaila, Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades operative Mohammad Ali Huwaila (facebook.com) F. Ibrahim Mohammad Hamdia, Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades operative Ibrahim Mohammad Hamdia (facebook.com) 200-14 17 G. Ahmad Hussam Abd al-Aziz, Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades operative. Ahmad Hussam Abd al-Aziz (facebook.com) H. Mohammad Nabil al-Ashi, Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades operative Mohammad Nabil al-Ashi (facebook.com) 200-14 18 I. Khaled Manoun, Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades operative Khaled Manoun photographed inside a tunnel, apparently the tunnel used by the squad to carry out the attack (facebook.com) J. Saleh Hamouda, Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades operative Saleh Hamouda inside a tunnel, apparently the tunnel used by the squad to carry out the attack (facebook.com) 200-14 19 Appendix B Additional Hamas operatives killed in Operation Protective Edge, whose names are not included in the Palestinian lists of fatalities Details of the names 1. Qassem Mohammad Qassem, 29, Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades commander. Reportedly killed on August 3, 2014, in an Israeli airstrike in the northern Gaza Strip. Another Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades commander by the name of Mohammad Saadi Ahmad was killed along with him (the next one on the list). Qassem Mohammad Qassem reading his will in a video produced by the media arm of the Izz alDin al-Qassam Brigades (youtube.com) 200-14 20 2. Mohammad Saadi Ahmad (Abu al-Samed) - Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades commander. Reportedly killed on August 3, 2014, by an aircraft in the northern Gaza Strip. Mohammad Saadi Ahmad (Abu al-Samed) - Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades commander (youtube.com) 3. Anas Taysir al-Hinawi, 22, operative in the Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades elite Al-Nukhba unit. Reportedly injured in the attack in Jabaliya on July 17, 2014. Died of his injuries on September 14, 2014, in Jordan, where he was hospitalized (arabic.dpnn.ps). Left: Photo in memory of Anas Taysir al-Hinawi, distributed by the Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades (facebook.com) Right: Anas Taysir al-Hinawi, operative in the Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades elite Al-Nukhba unit, from his death notice issued by the Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades (arabic.pnn.ps; facebook.com) 200-14 21 4. Bilal Khamis al-Ghalban - Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades commander. Killed on July 28, 2014. The circumstances of his death are unclear. Left: Photo in memory of Bilal al-Ghalban, distributed by the Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades (facebook.com) Right: Photo of Bilal Khamis al-Ghalban, from the Facebook page of the alGhalban family, Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades operative (facebook.com) 5. Suleiman Mohammad Abu Tir, Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades operative. Reportedly killed in an exchange of fire with IDF soldiers on August 1, 2014, in an unknown location. Suleiman Mohammad Abu Tir reading his will in a video produced by the military arm of the Izz alDin al-Qassam Brigades (youtube.com) 200-14 22 6. Walid Tawfiq Abd al-Hadi Darabia - operative in the Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades elite Al-Nukhba unit. Documentation team member in the Izz al-Din alQassam Brigades media unit. It is unclear when and in which incident he was killed. A video produced by the military wing of Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades in his memory stated that he was killed in Operation Protective Edge. Left: Walid Darabia during military training in the Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades (youtube.com) Right: Walid Tawfiq Abd al-Hadi Darabia reading his will in a video produced by the military arm of the Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades (youtube.com) 7. Wael Mohammad Abd al-Jalil Ramadan - Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades operative. It is not known when and in which incident he was killed. A video produced by the military wing of Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades in his memory stated that he was killed in Operation Protective Edge. Left: Wael Mohammad Abd al-Jalil Ramadan (youtube.com) Right: Wael Mohammad Abd al-Jalil Ramadan reading his will in a video produced by the media arm of the Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades (youtube.com) 200-14 23 8. Suheib Saleh Salama - Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades operative. Killed on July 31, 2014, east of Khan Yunis. Suheib Salama, Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades operative, reading his will (facebook.com) 9. Thaer Walid Abu Tir - Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades operative, killed on August 24, 2014. The circumstances of his death are unknown. Thaer Walid Abu Tir, Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades operative (facebook.com) 200-14 24 10. Faraj Abu Rabia - Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades operative. Killed in a clash between IDF forces and an Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades ambush on the night of July 17-18, 2014, during the IDF entry into the northern Gaza Strip (in the area of Beit Lahia). Hamas called the ambush "Gaps [for breaking through] of Ashkelon"6. Faraj Abu Rabia, Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades operative (facebook.com) 11. Saeed Talal Salman - Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades operative. Killed on the night of July 17-18, 2014, as a combatant in an ambush set by Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades for the IDF the northern Gaza Strip (which Hamas called "Gaps [for breaking through] of Ashkelon"). Saeed Talal Salman, Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades operative (facebook.com) 6 On November 25 and 26, 2014, Hamas published details about five terrorists who were killed in the "Gaps [for breaking through] of Ashkelon" ambush (See the ITIC's Information Bulletin: Examination of the names of Palestinians killed in Operation Protective Edge - Part Seven). Faraj Abu Rabia and Saeed Talal Salman (Nos. 19 and 20 on the list) were not included among them. 200-14 25 12. Salah al-Din Abu Sabha - Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades operative. Reportedly killed on August 3, 2014, in an airstrike during an operational activity against the IDF. It is not clear where. Salah al-Din Abu Sabha, Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades operative (youtube.com) 13. Salah al-Ghouti - Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades operative. Reportedly killed in an attack in Rafah on August 4, 2014. Salah al-Ghouti, Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades operative (paldf.net) 200-14 26 14. Ibrahim Hani Hamad - 22, Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades operative. Reportedly killed in an attack on his family's home in Beit Hanoun, on July 9, 2014. Ibrahim Hani Hamad, in a video produced in his memory by the media arm of the Izz al-Din alQassam Brigades (youtube.com) 15. Moundher Salman Qdeih - operative in the Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades elite Al-Nukhba unit. Killed during Operation Protective Edge. The date, place and circumstances of his death are unknown. Moundher Salman Qdeih, Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades operative (facebook.com) 200-14 27 16. Salman Salman al-Barim - Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades operative. Reportedly killed in an attack in Bani Suheila on July 27, 2014. His brother Mohammad Salman al-Barim was killed in the attack in Bani Suheila on August 1, 2014. His brother's name appeared on the list published by the WAFA News Agency. Salman Salman al-Barim - Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades operative (facebook.com) 17. Nidal Badran - Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades commander. Reportedly killed on August 9, 2014, in an attack on a mosque in Al-Nuseirat used by Izz al-Din alQassam Brigades operatives. Nidal Badran, Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades operative (facebook.com) 200-14 28 18. Muath Azzam Ziad Abu Zaid - Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades commander. Reportedly killed on August 16, 2014, in the shelling of the Izz al-Din al-Qassam Mosque in Al-Nuseirat. Muath Abu Zaid, Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades operative (facebook.com) 19. Diya Amir Abu Sharakh - Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades operative. Reportedly killed on August 7, 2014, east of Jabaliya, while preparing for an operational activity against Israel. Diya Amir Abu Sharakh, Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades operative (facebook.com) 200-14 29 20. Ghassan Mohammad al-Kahalout - Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades operative. Reportedly killed on August 7, 2014, east of Jabaliya, while preparing for an operational activity against Israel. Ghassan Mohammad al-Kahalout, Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades operative (facebook.com) 21. Luway Abu Zina - Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades operative. Killed in Operation Protective Edge. The date, place and circumstances of his death are unknown. Luway Abu Zina, Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades operative (facebook.com) 200-14 30 22. Saleh Bashir Hamouda, Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades operative. Killed on July 25, 2014 in Jabaliya. Saleh Bashir Hamouda, Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades operative (facebook.com) 23. Abdallah Fadl Murtaja - Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades operative. The Palestinian media referred to him as a civilian journalist. He is a former Al-Aqsa TV reporter who went to work at the Ain Media agency (a Hamas-affiliated news agency operating in Gaza). Served in the Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades during Operation Protective Edge. Killed in the shelling in Shejaiya, August 23, 2014. Abdallah Fadl Murtaja reading his will in a video produced by the Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades (facebook.com) 200-14 31 24. Mohammad Salah Abu Zaher ("Hamouda") - Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades engineering unit operative. Killed on August 7, 2014, east of Jabaliya, along with other Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades operatives while they were planning to carry out a terrorist attack. Mohammad Salah Abu Zaher, Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades engineering unit operative (facebook.com) 25. Amr Khader Mohjez - operative in the Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades elite AlNukhba unit. Killed on August 3, 2014. Left: Amr Khader Mohjez, from his death notice, issued by the Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades (facebook.com) Right: Amr Khader Mohjez, operative in the Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades elite unit, reading his will 200-14 32 26. Hussam Sami Abu Suweirah - Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades operative. Killed in Operation Protective Edge. The date, place and circumstances of his death are unknown. Left: Hussam Sami Abu Suweirah, in a video produced by the Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades (youtube.com) Right: Hussam Sami Abu Suweirah in a poster in his memory, issued by the Izz alDin al-Qassam Brigades facebook.com) 27. Ahmad Khader Banat - Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades operative. Killed in Operation Protective Edge. The date, place and circumstances of his death are unknown. Ahmad Khader Banat - Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades operative (sv-se.fb.me) 200-14 33 28. Bilal Ahmad Nassar - Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades operative. Killed in Operation Protective Edge. The date, place and circumstances of his death are unknown. Bilal Ahmad Nassar, Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades operative (sv-se.fb.me) 29. Mohammad Jum'a Jaber Khalifa - Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades operative. Served in the Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades elite Al-Nukhba unit. Killed together with other operatives while attacking an IDF force by means of a tunnel and subsequently shot from an aircraft. His body was found on August 5, 2014, in Juhr alDik, south of Gaza City, together with the body of another operative by the name of Mahmoud Ahmad Qaraman (see below). Mohammad Jum'a Jaber Khalifa - operative in the Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades elite unit (facebook.com) 200-14 34 30. Mahmoud Ahmad Qaraman - Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades operative. Served in the Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades elite Al-Nukhba unit. Killed together with other operatives while attacking an IDF force by means of a tunnel and subsequently shot from an aircraft. His body was found on August 5, 2014, in Juhr al-Dik, south of Gaza City, together with the body of Mohammad Jum'a Jaber Khalifa. Mahmoud Ahmad Qaraman, operative in the Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades elite unit (facebook.com) 31. Zuhdi Abd al-Hamid Abu al-Rous - Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades operative. 22. His body was found beneath the Izz al-Din al-Qassam Mosque in Al-Nuseirat on October 27, 2014. He was reportedly killed in Operation Protective Edge (paltoday.ps). Zuhdi Abd al-Hamid Abu al-Rous - Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades operative (facebook.com) 200-14 35 32. Yasser Sabri Salman - Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades commander. Killed on August 7, 2014, while preparing to attack IDF soldiers in the area of the Jabaliya refugee camp. Left: Death notice of Yasser Sabri Salman, issued by the Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades. He served concurrently in both the Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades and the Palestinian security apparatus (facebook.com) Right: Yasser Sabri Salman, Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades operative (facebook.com) 33. Usama Hamdi al-Shalfouh - Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades artillery unit operative. Reportedly died on August 26, 2014, in a targeted killing in the eastern part of the Jabaliya refugee camp. Usama Hamdi al-Shalfouh, Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades artillery unit operative (facebook.com) 200-14 36 34. Ahmad Hussein al-Mabhouh - Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades commander. Killed in Operation Protective Edge. The date, place and circumstances of his death are unknown. Ahmad Huseein al-Mabhouh, in his death notice issued by the Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades (facebook.com) 35. Mohammad Ismail Saleh - Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades operative, killed in Operation Protective Edge. Killed in unknown circumstances in an unknown location. Mohammad Ismail Saleh, Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades operative (facebook.com) 200-14 37 36. Taysir Ali al-Houm - Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades commander in charge of dismantling explosives. Killed, according to Palestinian sources, on August 13, 2014, in an explosion of an IDF dud. Taysir Ali al-Houm, Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades commander (facebook.com) 200-14