Jamal Abu Samhadana

Jamal Abu Samhadana (February 8, 1963 – June 8, 2006), from Rafah in the Gaza Strip, was the founder of the Popular Resistance Committees (which have been held responsible for firing missiles into Israel), [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/4932724.stm Hamas defies 'security force' ban] , "BBC News Online", 21 April, 2006.] a former Fatah and Tanzim member, and number two on Israel's list of wanted terrorists. On 20 April, 2006 he was appointed by Said Seyam, Interior Minister of the Palestinian National Authority's new Hamas-led government, as director general of the police forces in the Interior Ministry. [ [http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3241844,00.html Rocket chief gets top post] , "Ynet News", 20 April, 2006.] [Amos Harel and Arnon Regular, [http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/707659.html Wanted militant tapped for post in PA Interior Min.] , April 23, 2006.]

Abu Samhadana has been quoted as saying that 'Jews are the "only enemy" and that he will "carry a rifle" and "pull the trigger" to defend the Palestinian people'. [Jane Flanagan [http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2006/04/23/whamas23.xml&DCMP=EMC-new_23042006 Security head calls Jews 'enemy'] , "Sunday Telegraph", 23 April, 2006.]

The appointment has "sparked new criticism from the U.S. and Israel and intensified the struggle for control of some 70,000 Palestinian security forces." between Hamas and President Mahmoud Abbas. [Eric Westervelt, [http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5355985 Hamas' New Security Force Rankles Israel, PLO] , National Public Radio, 21 April, 2006.] Abbas subsequently issued a decree preventing the formation of the force that Abu Samhadana was to have headed. [Conal Urquhart, [http://www.guardian.co.uk/israel/Story/0,,1758978,00.html Palestinian president vetoes Hamas police] , "The Guardian, 22 April, 2006.] However Hamas defied the President's veto and proceeded with the nomination.

Abu Samhadana survived an Israeli missile strike in the occupied Gaza Strip in December, 2004. [ [http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/B20DB767-BCF2-4C23-83E0-0FB8C504AE54.htm Palestinians survive Israeli bid on life] , Aljazeera, 10 December, 2004.]

On June 8, 2006, Samhadana was killed by an Israeli airstrike along with at least three other PRC members. [ [http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/724811.html] , Ha'aretz, 8 June, 2006.] [ [http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3260670,00.html] , Yediot Acharonot, 8 June]

Footnotes

External links

* [http://www.thetruthseeker.co.uk/article.asp?ID=411 On Patrol with the Killer Israel Dreads] Hala Jaber, "Sunday Times", 29 December, 2002.

Video

* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/nolavconsole/ukfs_news/hi/newsid_4840000/newsid_4849800/bb_wm_4849802.stm? Hamas sets out vision for future] , "BBC News Online", 27 March, 2006.