Jerusalem, 24 November 2001
Israeli Forces Operate against Terrorist Mastermind Abu Hanoud
(Communicated by the Prime Minister's Media Adviser)
On the evening of 23 November, Hamas terrorist mastermind Mahmoud Abu
Hanoud, 34, of Asira Shamalieh, was killed by Israel security forces
in an initiated operation near Nablus (Shechem).
Abu Hanoud, a wanted fugitive, and senior commander of Hamas
terrorist operations, was personally involved in a lengthy series of
bombings directed against Israeli civilians, took part in the overall
planning of Hamas operations in the West Bank, was responsible for
the wave of suicide bombings in July and September of 1997 in which
he dispatched five suicide bombers, and was behind the 1999 suicide
bombings in Tiberias and Haifa.
In addition, Abu Hanoud was a senior 'handler' in the recent suicide
bombings at Sbarro in Jerusalem and the Dolphinarium in Tel Aviv, and
also 'controlled' a number of suicide terrorists who were recently
intercepted in Tulkarm by Israeli security forced before they carried
out their attacks. In the past few days, Hanoud was busy preparing
additional suicide attacks against Israel.
In an attempt to apprehend Abu Hanoud in Asira Shamalieh in August
2000, three soldiers of Israel's elite 'Duvdevan' counter-terrorist
unit were killed by friendly fire. Abu Hanoud was subsequently
arrested by the Palestinian Authority, however, in May 2001, he was
released from PA custody and his whereabouts became unknown.
In last night's operation, two additional terrorist were also
killed:
- Aimou Hashaika, 34, of the village of Talouza, a Hamas terrorist
operative who served as one of Abu Hanoud's top lieutenants and
assisted in carrying out terrorist attacks.
- Mamoul Hashaika, 30, of the village of Talouza, also a Hamas
operative.