Latest news with #FirstIntifada
Yahoo
5 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Israel says it has killed Hamas leader. Who is Mohammed Sinwar?
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu seemed to confirm Wednesday that his military forces killed Mohammed Sinwar, the understood leader of Hamas's armed wing. Speaking before Parliament, Netanyahu listed the names of top Hamas leaders that Israeli forces killed since the start of the war. 'We have killed tens of thousands of terrorists. We killed [Mohammed] Deif, [Ismail] Haniyeh, Yahya Sinwar and Mohammed Sinwar,' he said. Here's what to know about Mohammed Sinwar and his apparent death: There has been no confirmation from the U.S.-designated foreign terrorist group, which is the governing body in Gaza, in response to Israeli claims of Mohammed Sinwar's death. Israeli news outlets reported that Mohammed Sinwar was targeted in a strike earlier this month that hit what Israeli officials said was Hamas's command center, located beneath a hospital in Khan Younis. At the time, the Israeli military declined to comment on whether Mohammed was targeted or killed. At a press conference last week, however, Netanyahu commented on the reports. 'We have eliminated tens of thousands of terrorists. We eliminated the arch-murderers — Deif, Yahya Sinwar and apparently Muhammad Sinwar as well,' Netanyahu said May 21 in a translated statement provided by his office. Mohammed Sinwar is the younger brother of Yahya Sinwar, the infamous former Hamas leader who is often credited as the mastermind behind the Oct. 7, 2023, attack, which left nearly 1,200 Israelis dead and 251 people taken hostage in Gaza. The attack precipitated the broad retaliatory invasion of the Palestinian territory. Israeli forces killed Yahya Sinwar in October 2024 and have killed much of Hamas's leadership since the war started. Mohammed Sinwar is said the be among a small group of top Hamas commanders who knew in advance about the Oct. 7, 2023, attack, according to The Associated Press. Mohammed Sinwar joined Hamas with his older brother in the late 1980s when the group was initially founded as part of the Muslim Brotherhood. The younger Sinwar joined the military wing of the group, known as the Qassam Brigades. Mohammed Sinwar, born in 1975, was a teenager at the time. His family had been driven out of modern-day Israel during the 1948 war, and he was born in the Khan Younis refugee camp. Mohammed Sinwar became a member of the so-called joint chiefs of staff, working closely with the longtime commander Deif, who was killed in a strike last year. And he participated in the First Intifada, as well as several other operations, including the 2006 attack that led to the kidnapping of Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit. The Associated Press contributed. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
The Hill
5 days ago
- Politics
- The Hill
Israel says it has killed Hamas leader. Who is Mohammed Sinwar?
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu seemed to confirm Wednesday that his military forces killed Mohammed Sinwar, the understood leader of Hamas's armed wing. Speaking before parliament, Netanyahu listed the names of top Hamas leaders that Israeli forces killed since the start of the war. 'We have killed tens of thousands of terrorists. We killed (Mohammed) Deif, (Ismail) Haniyeh, Yahya Sinwar and Mohammed Sinwar,' he said. Here's what to know about Mohammed Sinwar and his apparent death: There has been no confirmation from the U.S.-designated foreign terrorist group, which is the governing body in Gaza, in response to Israeli claims of Mohammed Sinwar's death. Israeli news outlets reported that Mohammed Sinwar was targeted in a strike earlier this month that hit what Israeli officials said was Hamas's command center, located beneath a hospital in Khan Younis. At the time, the Israeli military declined to comment on whether Mohammed was targeted or killed. At a press conference last week, however, Netanyahu commented on the reports. 'We have eliminated tens of thousands of terrorists. We eliminated the arch-murderers – Deif, Yahya Sinwar and apparently Muhammad Sinwar as well,' Netanyahu said on May 21, in a translated statement provided by his office. Mohammed Sinwar is the younger brother of Yahya Sinwar, the infamous former Hamas leader who is often credited as the mastermind behind the Oct. 7, 2023, attack, which left nearly 1,200 Israelis dead and 251 people taken hostage in Gaza. The attack precipitated the broad retaliatory invasion of the Palestinian territory. Israeli forces killed Yahya Sinwar in October 2024 and have killed much of Hamas's leadership since the war started. Mohammed Sinwar is said the be among a small group of top Hamas commanders who knew in advance about the Oct. 7, 2023, attack, according to The Associated Press. Mohammed Sinwar joined Hamas with his older brother in the late 1980s when the group was initially founded as part of the Muslim Brotherhood. The younger Sinwar joined the military wing of the group, known as the Qassam Brigades. Mohammed Sinwar, born in 1975, was a teenager at the time. His family had been driven out of modern-day Israel during the 1948 war, and he was born in the Khan Younis refugee camp. Mohammed Sinwar became a member of the so-called joint chiefs of staff, working closely with the longtime commander, Deif, who was killed in a strike last year. And he participated in the First Intifada, as well as several other operations, including the 2006 attack that led to the kidnapping of Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit. The Associated Press contributed.
Indian Express
5 days ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
Mohammad Sinwar: The ghost commander behind Hamas's deadliest strikes
Mohammad Sinwar, the elusive Hamas commander announced dead by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday, was one of the group's most senior military figures and a top name on Israel's most wanted list. Known for his clandestine operations and ghost-like elusiveness, Sinwar was elevated to the top ranks of Hamas in 2024 following the death of his brother Yahya Sinwar—mastermind of the October 2023 attack on Israel that triggered the ongoing war in Gaza. Mohammad's rise through the group's ranks was marked by his role as a hardliner and seasoned battlefield strategist. As reported by Reuters, Sinwar played a key role in planning and executing the October 7, 2023, attack—described as Israel's worst security failure in decades. He had previously been linked to the 2006 cross-border raid that led to the capture of Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit, who was later released in a prisoner swap that freed over 1,000 Palestinians, including his brother Yahya. He was rarely seen in public and seldom spoke to the media. Born on September 15, 1975, in Khan Younis, southern Gaza, he grew up in a family originally from Asqalan (modern-day Ashkelon), who became refugees during the 1948 war, an event Palestinians refer to as the Nakba. He was educated in schools run by the UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), which has long had a strained relationship with Israel. Influenced by his brother Yahya, a former member of the Muslim Brotherhood, Mohammad joined Hamas soon after its founding in 1987 during the First Intifada. By 2005, Sinwar was leading the Hamas brigade in Khan Younis, one of the group's largest and most capable units. It has been responsible for a wide range of military operations, including rocket attacks, tunnel infiltration, and surveillance of Israeli troop movements. According to Reuters, his unit also participated in the 2006 abduction of Shalit, which was carried out by elite Hamas commandos under his leadership. Sinwar was considered one of the 'ghosts' of Hamas, consistently outmaneuvering Israeli intelligence services. Reuters reports that he had survived multiple assassination attempts, including remote-controlled explosives and bombings targeting his home. On one occasion, Hamas operatives discovered a bomb disguised as a brick along a cemetery path Sinwar was meant to take. In another incident in 2003, an explosive device planted in his home's wall was found and neutralised before detonation. His close associations with top Hamas military leaders, such as Mohammed Deif and Marwan Issa, further consolidated his influence. Despite Israel's efforts, Sinwar maintained a low profile, focusing on strategy and operations rather than public appearances. Yahya Sinwar's death in 2024—captured in footage showing him throwing a piece of wood at an Israeli drone before being killed—marked a dramatic moment that led to Mohammad's rise, according to Reuters. While Hamas has yet to confirm Sinwar's death, his absence could reshape Hamas's military command structure. Reports suggest Izz al-Din Haddad, a key figure currently overseeing operations in northern Gaza, may take over the group's armed wing. However, it remains unclear how Sinwar's elimination would affect decision-making within Hamas, particularly regarding ceasefire negotiations and the influence of exiled leaders in the group's political bureau. (With Inputs from Reuters)
Yemenat
07-05-2025
- Politics
- Yemenat
Dr. Ahmed Al-Maghrabi: From Gaza to Belgium – A Doctor Whose Consciousness Was Forged in the Intifada, Recounts a Tale of War and Exile
This article is based on an exclusive telephone interview with Dr. Ahmed Al-Maghrabi, currently residing in Belgium, who chronicles the life of a Palestinian doctor rooted in Gaza, his awareness blossoming in the crucible of the Intifada. From the heart of Gaza, where childhood memories intertwine with the cries of the Intifada, emerges the story of Dr. Ahmed Al-Maghrabi, a son of the Al-Sabra neighborhood. More than a simple autobiography, it's a mirror reflecting the features of an entire generation, one whose consciousness was shaped by the rhythm of stones and the roar of explosions. Born in 1977, Ahmed's journey began as a witness to the First Intifada, the 'Stone Intifada,' which ignited in 1987 and lasted six years, leaving an indelible mark on the memory of a generation that spent its youth amidst the turmoil. Al-Zaitoun School, opposite the Islamic University, embraced him during his preparatory years, bearing witness to the occupation's violence and the students' unwavering resolve to resist, as they confronted Israeli soldiers, pelting them with stones. The Israeli army's frequent closures of the school, sometimes lasting half an academic year due to constant clashes, did not deter the students from seeking knowledge; instead, it fueled their determination to continue their studies in other schools. Ahmed lived a difficult life, filled with strikes and clashes with occupation soldiers, who did not hesitate to use tear gas, rubber bullets, and live ammunition to suppress the Intifada. Curfews and the storming of homes in search of 'wanted' individuals were a common sight, painting a grim picture of life under occupation, a picture etched into the memory of an entire generation. In 1993, as the dawn of the Palestinian Authority, led by Abu Ammar, broke and it assumed control of the Gaza Strip, Ahmed was in his penultimate year of high school. He continued his studies with unwavering determination until he completed his secondary education, opening up several paths before him. Turkey and Egypt were among the options considered, but fate led him to advice from friends in Ukraine, who pointed out the ease of travel and residency procedures there. And so, Ahmed packed his bags and headed to Ukraine in 1995, where he spent his first year learning the language, then enrolled in medical school, graduating in 2002 with the medical degree his father had always dreamed of him attaining. Ahmed's father was the only son in his family (he had two sisters, one in Egypt and the other in Gaza) and the father of ten children, nine sons and one daughter, with Ahmed being the eldest. The father spent his life as a nurse at Al-Mamadani Hospital, carrying on a legacy from his own father, who had also been a nurse since the time of the British Mandate, when doctors and nurses were a rare commodity. The dream of medicine had always danced in the father's imagination, and he wished to see one of his sons follow that path. Ahmed returned to Gaza and joined the internship program at Al-Shifa Hospital, near his home, completing his mandatory training in 2004 to become a general practitioner. He worked temporarily in several hospitals, but was unable to secure a permanent position, neither in the public nor private sector. With the deteriorating security situation, he considered emigrating in search of a better future, but fate had other plans. Suddenly, his father passed away from a heart attack at the age of fifty, leaving behind a great void. As the eldest son, Ahmed felt a responsibility towards his family and could not leave them alone. But, as if fate wanted to compensate him for his loss, on the very day of his father's death, he received calls from UNRWA, the government sector, and Doctors Without Borders, offering him jobs. After deep thought and prayer, he decided to join the government sector, to serve his people and to be a worthy successor to a worthy predecessor. After his father's passing, sadness enveloped Ahmed's heart for three long months, during which he could not overcome the bitterness of loss, even failing to go and take up the job he had long awaited. He was gripped by the fear that he would be assigned to remote areas in northern or southern Gaza, as the Director-General of Hospitals, Dr. Fathi, was known for his strictness and inflexibility, and his decisions were not open to discussion. However, the insistence of his family and friends prompted him to reconsider, especially after the Ministry of Health informed him that he would be replaced if he did not start work. He woke up early, performed the dawn prayer, and told his mother and wife that he would go to take up the job. He did not have the bus fare, so he walked until he reached the Ministry of Health, went up to the office of the Director-General of Hospitals, and knocked on the door, and he was granted permission to enter. The man sitting across from the director was only visible from the back. The director asked, 'You're the last doctor who hasn't come to take up his post, aren't you? Your name is Ahmed Al-Maghrabi?' The director picked up his file, and Ahmed felt his heart pounding, fearing he would be sent to a remote location. In that poignant moment, the man sitting across from the director rose, grabbed Ahmed by the back, and shook his hand warmly, weeping as he asked about his well-being. This man was the Director-General of Nursing at the Ministry of Health, Dr. Munir Abu Dalal, who turned to the Director-General of Hospitals and said, 'This is the son of my friend Ibrahim Al-Maghrabi, who passed away three months ago, we want to help him.' Dr. Fathi was moved and replied sympathetically, 'Please sit down, you are the first one I will give a choice to, may God have mercy on your father.' This moment was a lifeline for Ahmed, the beginning of a new path he had not anticipated. Dr. Munir Abu Dalal took Ahmed aside and advised him, 'You are not a specialist, I will send you to a specialty where the number of doctors does not exceed five in the entire Gaza Strip, which is plastic and burn surgery.' And so, Ahmed began working at Al-Shifa Medical Hospital, in the plastic and burn surgery department, aspiring to specialize and develop his skills. He found in the head of the department, Dr. Nafith Abu Shaban, a spiritual father who encouraged and inspired him greatly. In less than a year, he sent him on a training course to Morocco for two months in plastic and burn surgery. In 2010, he received an online scholarship to study burn science from London for three years, and completed his master's degree in 2013, but his ambition did not stop there. He began contacting many institutions around the world, seeking support for a Palestinian doctor who wanted to specialize and complete his studies. He received a response from the same institution that supported him in his online studies, and they supported him in pursuing a master's degree in reconstructive surgery. Part of this scholarship involved a fellowship in plastic and reconstructive surgery in India, and working on the thesis and academic matters in London in 2015, completing the studies in 2017. Ahmed strived to achieve his dream, driven by an ambition that knew no impossible. In 2018, he returned to Gaza to continue his work at Al-Shifa Hospital, in addition to opening his own clinic in the heart of the city. He was a pioneer in the field of hair transplantation in the Gaza Strip, and received specialized training courses in this field from several countries. His ambitions did not stop there, but he dreamed of establishing an integrated hospital and a skin bank, for which he prepared a comprehensive study to establish this bank that would serve burn patients in particular. Eleven months before the war, he bought a prime piece of land of 500 square meters, and built a five-story building on it: a basement and four floors. He dedicated the basement to be a beauty center for women, the first floor for a hair transplant clinic and his private clinic, while the upper floors were to be a residence for him and his family. He also planned to establish a company for cosmetic products and had already contacted companies in Turkey. But, under the weight of the war that broke out on October 7th, all these rosy dreams vanished in an instant. He lost everything he owned, estimated at about $450,000, and his hopes for a bright future were shattered in a single moment. During the war, he was stationed at Nasser Hospital, sleeping about an hour or two in the operating room. The number of injured was in the hundreds, and the wounded were lying by the hundreds in the corridors and in the hospital yard, the situation was catastrophic. The electricity would go out during operations, and they would work by flashlight. The most difficult moments were during the siege of the hospital, his family was with him, there was no food or water, and they were drinking from the tap, which was not potable. His young daughter, three years old, remained asleep most of the time from hunger, his heart was breaking and he wished for death as he watched his daughter and the children suffer from hunger. His nephew was diagnosed with a cancerous tumor in the brain, he was not allowed to go to the European Hospital to undergo a tumor removal operation, they told him, 'No one can approach the hospital, the occupation army will kill him.' At the moment of the hospital's storming, his nephew went out and headed to the European Hospital to undergo the operation, and he is still receiving chemotherapy. He recalls one case, a two-year-old girl with Dr. Ghassan, who wanted to amputate her leg, but he refused and told him, 'He will perform a reconstruction for her.' He stayed for four hours, and after he finished the operation, he told the nurse to call someone from her family to give him instructions on how to deal with the child, the nurse returned to tell him that the child was the only survivor out of 25 people. Amidst the destruction and despair, Ahmed found himself facing a great humanitarian responsibility, trying to save what could be saved, and alleviating the pain of those around him, even in the darkest of circumstances. He says, 'In the midst of the war, when the hospital corridors were filled with the wounded, and we had to choose who would live and who would die, I felt a helplessness I had never known before. Those moments will remain a stain on the forehead of humanity, and a constant reminder of the high price we pay in Gaza. The most difficult challenge he faced in the hospital was when the corridors were filled with the wounded, and there were only six operating rooms in the hospital. They had to choose four wounded and leave the rest to die, due to the lack of sufficient medical personnel, space, and medical equipment. How harsh those moments were, they were dying before their very eyes. He also says, 'I always dreamed of a private hospital in Gaza, a place where I could provide the best possible care for my people. I bought the land, and started building, but the war stole everything from me. All that remains is the scattered ashes of dreams, and a bitter sense of loss He decided to leave Gaza because the targeting had become clear, a war of extermination, with the world watching, and specifically targeting doctors and journalists. Staying in Gaza meant waiting for certain death. He was communicating via Facebook with some people, including the Belgian professor Delphine Noels, who insisted on helping him, and provided him with an invitation from a university to study for a year as a research student, under which he obtained an entry visa. In poignant and emotional moments, he left Gaza with his family, unable to hold back his tears as he gazed at the destruction and heard the cries of hungry children, and all those horrific scenes that accompanied him on his way to the Rafah crossing. At the Rafah crossing, one of his journalist friends insisted on documenting the moment of his farewell as he wept bitterly, contemplating the wall that separates life and death, between Gaza and Egypt. Behind that wall lies death, torment, pain, and oppression, while on the other side lies life and safety, separated from him by only a few meters – a paradox that reflects the magnitude of the tragedy that Palestinians are living through. After arriving in Cairo, he spent a whole month confined to his home, suffering from severe frustration due to the difficulty of adapting to the new life away from the bombing and death. He felt guilty for leaving Gaza, its people, and the patients, and was haunted by the idea of returning, but he knew that it was impossible, embodying the feeling of helplessness that accompanies many who have been forced to leave their homes. While in Egypt, he did not rest, but quickly coordinated with the Belgian professor Delphine Noels and a group of Belgian volunteers to establish a charity and a project called 'Compassionate Hearts for Palestine,' out of his belief in the need to provide assistance to the people of Gaza in every possible way. Despite the recent establishment of the organization, it has been able to achieve tangible achievements on the ground, as an educational school for children has been established in Deir al-Balah, as well as a medical clinic specializing in the treatment of children and skin diseases, and the provision of free medicines. In addition, the organization has distributed mineral water and food parcels to the displaced, and provided tents to shelter them. Two weeks ago, they were able to provide prosthetic limbs for ten children who lost their limbs in Gaza and are now in Jordan for treatment, and they are still striving to provide a 3D Printer for printing prosthetic limbs inside the Gaza Strip. In mid-October of last year, 2024, he arrived in Belgium, and was sent to the Charles Roux Hospital, which provided him with housing and work in the burn and plastic surgery department. This is how he spends his days in Belgium, with his heart hanging in Gaza, and the effects of the war still haunting him in every moment: images of the dead, the sounds of explosions, images of his relatives, 70 of whom have been martyred.. 'Despite all the pain and suffering, I still believe that the cause of Palestine will ultimately prevail. Arab and Islamic unity is the only way to achieve this, and we must renounce our differences and unite for Gaza, for Palestine, for a better future for our coming generations.' The cause of Palestine is an Arab and Islamic issue, and we cannot achieve victory for Gaza while we are divided. All Arab and Islamic countries must unite and abandon sectarian and ideological conflicts, and with this we will achieve victory for Gaza and for all of Palestine. Despite all the calamities he has experienced in Gaza, which were embodied in the years 2009, 2012, 2014, 2018, and 2021, leading up to the current genocide, Dr. Ahmed Al-Maghrabi continues his journey. Even his injury by shrapnel in the head while working at Al-Shifa Hospital did not deter him from his determination. His story reminds us that hope is born from the womb of suffering, and that even the medical sector, which is supposed to be a safe haven, has not been spared from attacks. Let us learn from Dr. Ahmed how to create light from ashes, strength from pain, and unity as a path towards victory. Palestine is not just a cause, but a responsibility that rests on the shoulders of every human being who believes in justice and freedom.
NDTV
27-04-2025
- Politics
- NDTV
Who Is Hussein Al-Sheikh, Front-Runner To Succeed Palestinian President Abbas
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Saturday appointed his close aide, Hussein al-Sheikh, as the first-ever vice president of the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO). While the appointment does not guarantee al-Sheikh's succession to the presidency, it positions him as the leading candidate among veteran politicians in the dominant Fatah party. Who is Hussein al-Sheikh? Hussein al-Sheikh was born in 1960 in Ramallah, Palestine, into a refugee family. Between 1978 and 1989, al-Sheikh was detained by Israeli forces for 11 years. During his imprisonment, he learned Hebrew. Al-Sheikh became a member of the Unified National Command of the First Intifada (1988). After the Oslo Accords, al-Sheikh served briefly as a colonel in the Preventive Security Division. He was later appointed as the Secretary-General of Fatah in the West Bank in 1999. In 2007, al-Sheikh became the head of the General Authority of Civil Affairs, a position he held until February 2025. He was responsible for managing civilian matters and coordinating with Israeli authorities. Al-Sheikh served as the Minister for the Coordination of Civil Affairs from 2013 to 2019, while retaining his ministerial rank after his term ended. After the 2014 Gaza war, he was appointed the Palestinian Authority's representative on the Gaza Reconstruction Committee, alongside Israeli and Egyptian representatives. Hussein Al-Sheikh was first elected to the Fatah Central Committee in 2009 and has been re-elected in 2016, where he has served as the official spokesperson for Fatah. In 2022, al-Sheikh became a member of the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO). Later that year, he was appointed Secretary-General of the PLO and Head of the Negotiations Affairs Department. Al-Sheikh has represented President Abbas in international meetings, including with Gulf Arab countries and the United States. He met with Donald Trump's Mideast envoy earlier this year in Saudi Arabia, AP reported. In 2017, al-Sheikh became a member of the Palestinian National Dialogue Committee, specifically handling the file of reconciliation. He serves as the president of Al-Bireh's youth sports club since 2010. In 2012, he was voted "Best Palestinian Public Figure" in opinion polls.
