Draft:Rafeh Salama
| Rafeh Salama | |
|---|---|
| File:Rafeh Salama.jpg | |
| Name | Rafeh Salama |
| Personal Details | |
| Birth Place | Gaza Strip |
| Death Place | Southern Gaza Strip |
| Death Date | 13 July |
| Religion | Islam |
Rafeh Salama, Commander of the Khan Yunis Brigade of the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, one of the main planners of Al-Aqsa Flood who carried out multiple operations against the Zionist regime including the operations "Omar Tabash" in 2005, the capture of Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit in 2006, "Ahmed Abu Tahoun" known as "Sayd al-Afa'i 3", in 2007, "Al-Jurf al-Samid" and "Al-Asf al-Makul" in 2014, who on 13 July 2024, in the Al-Mawasi massacre, the attack of the Israeli occupying army on the Al-Mawasi refugee camp, in the southern Gaza Strip along with Mohammed Deif, Marwan Issa, Ghazi Abu Timaah and Raed Thabet, reached martyrdom.
Biography
Rafeh Salama was born in the Khan Yunis camp in the Gaza Strip. He was raised in a family many of whose members, including his mother in the attack of the occupying army of the Israel and his uncle "Jawad Abu Shamala" a member of the political bureau of Hamas and a close associate of Yahya Sinwar on the first day of the Al-Aqsa Flood operation, reached martyrdom.
Militant Activities
Salama joined the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades in the early 1990s and before assuming command of the Khan Yunis Brigade in 2016, he was appointed commander of the Khan Yunis Battalion under the command of Mohammed Sinwar[1].
Operation Planning
He was responsible for designing and executing multiple operations against the Zionist regime which led to the killing and wounding of dozens of Israeli forces. Including in the operation "Omar Tabash" in 2005, in which a room intended for officers of the Israel Security Agency (Shin Bet) at the Oruchan military site in the center of the Gaza Strip was exploded. He participated in the capture of Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit in 2006, and was present in the operation "Ahmed Abu Tahoun" known as "Sayd al-Afa'i 3", in 2007, which targeted an Israeli special force that had infiltrated east of the city of Rafah. He was also responsible for Hamas war and defense programs during the operations "Al-Jurf al-Samid" and "Al-Asf al-Makul" in 2014, and one of the main planners of Al-Aqsa Flood[2].
Assassination Attempts
Salama was subjected to several assassination attempts by Israel and the occupiers offered $200,000 to anyone who provided information about him.
Martyrdom
Finally, Mohammed Salama on 13 July 2024, in the Al-Mawasi massacre, the attack of the Israeli occupying army on the Al-Mawasi refugee camp, in the southern Gaza Strip along with Mohammed Deif, Marwan Issa, Ghazi Abu Timaah and Raed Thabet, reached martyrdom.
Reactions
On 30 January 2025, Abu Ubaydah, spokesperson for the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, announced the martyrdom of Rafea Salama. In a recorded speech, he said: We mourn the martyrdom of the Chief of Staff of the Qassam Brigades, Mohammed Deif, along with a group of senior mujahideen of the Qassam Military Council[3].
Mohammed al-Hindi, Deputy Secretary-General of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad Movement, stated in remarks: The martyrdom of the first row of Hamas leaders does not mean the disappearance of the resistance. Hamas fought until the last day and even after the martyrdom of its field commanders in Gaza. He emphasized: The resistance forced the occupying regime to negotiate, and the scenes of prisoner releases are a defeat for Benjamin Netanyahu. Al-Hindi added: The occupying regime creates crises, and Netanyahu's attempt to extort the resistance has ended. The occupying regime is obstructing the path of prisoner releases in order to counter the joy of the people of Palestine. The Deputy Secretary-General of Islamic Jihad added: There are guidelines to which the occupying regime will adhere before the mediators, and if it does not adhere, the resistance will have its own options.
Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps emphasized in a statement: The survival, growth, continuous empowerment, and vitality of the resistance, and the recording of great events and achievements in the path of liberating Noble Jerusalem, are due to the struggles and historic epic-making of great men who, with their selfless, sacrificial, and legendary presence in the battlefield against the occupiers of the holy land of Palestine, created eternal honors and made themselves a model and torch for the mujahideen of Jerusalem. Mohammed Deif and other martyr commanders of the al-Qassam Brigades are shining stars who, in the galaxy of the honorable resistance of Palestine, are the creators of an inspiring and enduring chapter of sacrifice, selflessness, resistance, and relentless struggle against the fake and criminal Zionist regime, especially after the historic operation of Al-Aqsa Flood, and their names still cast fear and terror in the hearts of Zionist criminals and their supporters, and their successors will show that their names are alive and paving the way for the future of the resistance. In this statement, the IRGC congratulated and offered condolences to the honorable and powerful nation of Palestine, especially the heroic Hamas, on the martyrdom of Mohammed Diab Ibrahim al-Masri (Mohammed Deif), the Commander-in-Chief, and other honorable commanders of the al-Qassam Brigades, Marwan Eissa (Abu al-Baraa), Ghazi Abu Tamaa (Abu Musa), Rafea Salama (Abu Mohammed), Ahmed al-Ghandour (Abu Anas), Ayman Nofal (Abu Ahmed), and Raed Thabet in the field of victorious resistance against the aggression and crimes of the soldiers of the Zionist regime after the epic of Al-Aqsa Flood. The statement of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps emphasized: Undoubtedly, the announcement of the martyrdom of Mohammed Deif and other commanders of the al-Qassam Brigades will circulate new blood in the veins of the fighters of the Islamic resistance of Palestine, and by strengthening the will and preparations of the children of the Palestinian nation to continue steadfastness and pursue the ideal of liberating Al-Quds and raising the flag of Palestine across the entire holy land, by God's grace, they will attack like fierce storms upon the fake and vile existence of the satanic and racist Zionist regime and invalidate their shameful life, and in this blessed path, the support and backing of the Islamic Ummah, especially the Axis of Resistance, will continue to powerfully accompany them[4].
See also
- Hudhayfah Samir Abdullah al-Kahlout
- Mohammed Diab Ibrahim al-Masri
- Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades
- Marwan Abdulkarim Eissa
- Al-Aqsa Flood
- Yahya Sinwar
- Hamas
Footnotes
- ↑ Al-Deif and 6 of his comrades.. Get to know the martyred Qassam Brigades commanders, Al Jazeera Network website.
- ↑ Al-Deif and 6 others.. What do we know about the Qassam commanders whose martyrdom was announced by Abu Ubaida?, Al-Araby Al-Jadeed website.
- ↑ Rafea Salama, a Qassami who led the Khan Yunis Brigade and was assassinated by Israel, Al Jazeera Network website.
- ↑ IRGC: The blood of martyr resistance commanders strengthens the will of the Palestinian nation, Al-Alam Network website.
References
- Al-Deif and 6 others.. What do we know about the Qassam commanders whose martyrdom Abu Ubaydah announced?, Al-Araby Al-Jadid website, Publication date: 31 January 2025, Access date: 3 February 2025.
- Rafea Salama, a Qassami who led the Khan Yunis Brigade and was assassinated by Israel, Al Jazeera Network website, Publication date: 31 January 2025, Access date: 3 February 2025.
- IRGC: The blood of martyr resistance commanders strengthens the will of the Palestinian nation, Al-Alam Network website, Publication date: 3 February 2025, Access date: 3 February 2025.