IDF Spokesman
August 1, 2001
In an IDF strike (31 July) in Nablus, the heads of the Hamas Command
in the area of Samaria and other prominent Hamas operatives were
killed.
The strike was carried out as these operatives were busy working on
future Hamas terrorist operations. Their detailed plans included
carrying out a series of terrorist attacks in the heart of Israel.
The Hamas Command in Samaria has been responsible for a long series
of lethal terrorist attacks, in which 37 civilians were murdered and
376 were wounded. Among these attacks was the suicide bombing of the
Dolphinarium night club in Tel Aviv, which killed 21 Israeli
teenagers.
Under the guidance of the operatives who were killed, the Hamas
movement in Samaria demonstrated intense cruelty in its activities,
concentrating their terrorist attacks against Israeli children and
youths.
It must be emphasized that recently the names of a number of the
Hamas operatives from the Samaria area were submitted to the
Palestinian Authority, to be arrested. Until this moment, the
Palestinian Authority has yet to take any action to prevent the
planned terrorist attacks.
The IDF Spokesperson reiterates that the IDF will continue its
precise strikes against operatives who plan on carrying out
outrageous terrorist attacks against Israeli citizens and soldiers,
attacks which totally contradict the commitment of the Palestinians
to fulfill the Tenet Document agreements.
Terrorist Attacks Carried out by the Hamas Command of Samaria
June 1, 2001: A suicide bomber detonated an explosive charge in the
Dolphinarium nightclub in Tel Aviv. Twenty-one killed (19 Israeli
civilians, most of them teenagers, and two Ukrainian tourists); 84
people were injured.
May 18, 2001: A suicide bomber detonated an explosive charge at the
entrance to the "Hasharon" shopping mall in Netanya. Five people were
killed and 74 were injured.
April 22, 2001: A suicide bomber detonated an explosive charge near a
bus in Kfar Saba. One civilian was killed and 47 people were injured
(two of them seriously.)
March 28, 2001: A suicide bomber detonated an explosive charge near a
gas-station at the Neveh Yamin junction. Two children were killed and
four were injured.
March 27, 2001: A suicide bomber detonated an explosive charge near a
bus at the French Hill junction in Jerusalem. 12 people were
injured.
March 4, 2001: A suicide bomber detonated an explosive charge on the
corner of Herzl and Shoham streets in Netanya.
March 1, 2001: A suicide bomber detonated an explosive charge in a
taxicab at the Mei Ami junction. A civilian was killed and 12 people
were injured.
January 1, 2001: A suicide bomber detonated an explosive charge on
the corner of Herzl and Dizengoff streets in Netanya. 36 people were
injured.
December 22, 2000: A suicide bomber detonated an explosive charge at
the Mehola junction. Three soldiers were injured.
November 22, 2000: A car bomb exploded on Hanassi St. in Hadera. Two
people were killed and 61 were injured.
Additional Background Information on Hamas Operatives
Jamal Mansour
Born 1960, resident of Nablus.
Among the heads of the Hamas in the territories and directly
responsible for the Samaria regional command. Was imprisoned 11 times
for his terrorist activity. Among those who were excluded to Marj
a-Zahur, Lebanon in 1992.
Filled a wide variety of positions in the Hamas, and was one of the
leaders of the organization's current extremist agenda.
Actively incited in favor of increased Hamas armed operations against
Israel, virulently supported suicide actions and mass bombings, and
called for killings to be carried out throughout Israel.
Under his command, Hamas operatives in Samaria carried out the
Hamas's operational plan to commit suicide bombings and other types
of terrorist attacks against Israel.
Mansour oversaw the implementation of the Hamas' policy of terrorist
attacks. He provided guidance, chose the targets and methods,
established the necessary organizational infrastructure and
dispatched the operatives to carry out their lethal missions. He
organized mass rallies during which he publicly called for the
increase of attacks against Israel and rejected the idea of a
negotiated settlement.
In his public statements he detailed his views extensively:
1) For example, in an interview for BBC radio on the January 9,
2001, Mansour explained that the Hamas saw no wrong in the killing of
civilians, on every possible occasion.
2) A few days ago, on July 25, 2001, in interviews for "Al-Jezira"
television and "Abu-Dhabi" television, he stated that despite the
killing of many Hamas operatives, "there are many who stand ready to
take the place of the 'martyrs'.
3) He also used the interviews to call on those who were hesitant
to choose "the path of resistance".
Jamal Dmouni
Born 1958, resident of Nablus.
Among the leaders of the Hamas Command in the Samaria region and
among its commanders in the territories. Began his terrorist
activities as early as the 1970's. First arrested in April 1975 at
the age of 17, and since then has been unceasingly involved in
terrorism.
In 1992 excluded to Marj a-Zahur, Lebanon along with leaders of the
Hamas and the Islamic Jihad in the territories.
He was one of the current Hamas policy-makers. Supported an increase
in terrorist activity against Israel and the increased use of suicide
bombers. He attacked the 'fatwahs' (Islamic religious rulings) which
decried suicide bombings and called for Muslims to ignore them. His
name appeared again and again on lists submitted by Israel to the PA
containing names of terrorists to be arrested. He disregarded the
heads of the PA security mechanisms and they were frightened of
confronting him.
Promised in press interviews on July 25, 2001 (AP and Nablus
Television) that the Hamas movement would respond to the killing of
Salah Darawza. Recently, Dmouni and his associates devoted their time
to planning attacks against Israel. Likewise, Dmouni is known to the
Israeli public for his promise to send to tens of suicide bombers to
Israel to sow death throughout the country.
In a Hamas rally which took place on April 24, 2001, in honor of the
terrorist who carried out the attack on Neve Yemin, Dmouni stated:
"Hamas chooses Intifada and militant operations. You the Israelis, it
is your turn to weep for your dead; we have prepared a hundred
attacks [suicide bombers] who await their turn ... after the hundreds
there will be thousands more". Jamal Dmouni declared more than once
that "suicide operations are the pinnacle of contribution and
sacrifice" and viewed this declaration as a guiding motto for all his
activities.
Fahim Ibrahim Mustafa Dawabsheh
Born 1969, resident of Nablus, originally from Douma.
Worked in a Hamas office in Nablus, from which the Hamas declared its
responsibility for suicide bombings and which coordinated Hamas
operations with Hamas elements in Samaria.
Was wanted for several years due to his involvement in an attack. Was
in close contact with Hamas militant operatives and was one of the
leaders of the "Katala Islamiyya" movement.
As part of his activities he also aided militant operatives who
organized bombing attacks in Israel.
It was recently learned that he used to meet and instruct militant
operatives, including the suicide bomber Hamad Abu Hanleh, who
carried out the suicide bombing in Netanya on January 1, 2001.