Fursan Mahmoud Abdullah Khalifa[1] (Arabic: فرسان محمود عبد الله خليفة; 8 April 1983 – 25 November 2023) was a senior Palestinian military commander of Hamas and the Qassam Brigades.[2] He was born in Tulkarm to a prominent senior Hamas leader and military commander.[3][4] He was in detention under the Israeli government from 2003 until 2011, when he was released as part of the Gilad Shalit prisoner exchange, and was deported to the Gaza Strip.[5] He was later assassinated by the IDF during Operation Iron Sword.[6]
Fursan Mahmoud Abdullah Khalifa | |
|---|---|
| Native name | فرسان محمود عبد الله خليفة |
| Born | 8 April 1983 Tulkarm, West Bank |
| Died | 25 November 2023 (aged 40) Gaza Strip |
| Cause of death | Targeted bombing |
| Buried | Tulkarm, West Bank |
| Allegiance |  Hamas |
| Military | al-Qassam Brigades |
| Years of service | 2000–2003; 2011–2023 |
| Rank | Military Commander |
| Battles / wars | |
| Alma mater | al-Quds Open University |
| Children | 4 |
Early life and career
editKhalifa was born in Tulkarm on 8 April 1983 in the Nur Shams refugee camp. During the Second Intifada, he became a prominent member of the al-Qassam Brigades and was captured and arrested by Israel on 7 April 2003 for conspiracy to commit terror attacks against it.[7] Khalifa was found guilty of terrorism and sentenced to 24 years in prison.[8] He was released by Israeli authorities in 2011 as one of over 1,000 Palestinian prisoners exchanged for the life of captured Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit, ending up in Gaza.[5]
Following his release in 2011, Khalifa became one of the most prominent members of the West Bank division of the al-Qassam Brigades.[9] He was the first official to be appointed a commander for the Northern West Bank.[10] Israel alleged that after his release, he directed several terrorist attacks against Israeli civilians,[7] and that he worked to strengthen the military infrastructure of Hamas in the West Bank.[11]
Personal life
editKhalifa held a Bachelor's degree in "Social and Family Development" from Al-Quds Open University, and in 2021, obtained a Master's degree from their Institute of Sustainable Development.[12]
Death
editKhalifa was killed as part of the Israeli response to the surprise invasion during the Israeli bombardment of the Gaza Strip.[3] His body was found on November 25, 2023 under the rubble following the entry of Palestinian forces into a building following the temporary ceasefire. A funeral was held for him in his hometown of Tulkarm.[13] Hamas confirmed the deaths of Khalifa and several other commanders on November 25.[14]
References
edit- ^ "مبعدو صفقة تبادل حركة حماس وإسرائيل (صفقة شاليط) 1/10/2011". info.wasa.ps. Archived from the original on 17 February 2021. Retrieved 18 December 2023.
- ^ "تصفية مسؤول عسكري فلسطيني رفيع في القطاع". Aakher Khabar. 28 November 2023. Archived from the original on 25 November 2023. Retrieved 18 December 2023.
- ^ a b "מתברר: בכיר חמאס פורסאן ח'ליפה חוסל בתקיפת צה"ל לפני מספר ימים" (in Hebrew). Retrieved 18 December 2023.
- ^ "Palestinian reports: Senior Hamas official assassinated in Gaza a few days ago". All Israel News. November 2023. Retrieved 18 December 2023.
- ^ a b "أسماء المفرج عنهم في صفقة شاليط حسب مصلحة السجون الإسرائيلية". دنيا الوطن (in Arabic). 16 October 2011. Retrieved 18 December 2023.
- ^ "The death of the deported Fursan Khalifa in a previous bombardment of Gaza". Khbr Press. 25 November 2023. Archived from the original on 25 November 2023. Retrieved 18 December 2023.
- ^ a b "ترجمة الحدث| من هو الشخص الذي جند مجموعة الشهيد جرار وأعطاهم أوامر بتنفيذ العملية ؟". www.alhadath.ps (in Arabic). Retrieved 18 December 2023.
- ^ Shragai, Nadav (21 August 2019). "Hamas: Busier than ever in the West Bank". Israel Hayom.
- ^ الإخبارية, سما. ""إسرائيل" تزعم مقر قيادة الضفة في غزة هو المسؤول عن عملية غوش عتصيون". سما الإخبارية (in Arabic). Retrieved 18 December 2023.
- ^ "המנגנון של חמאס לפיגועים בגדה". News1 (in Hebrew). Retrieved 18 December 2023.
- ^ "كيف يدير جناح حماس العسكري العمليات في الضفة الغربية؟". وكالة وطن للأنباء (in Arabic). Archived from the original on 25 November 2023. Retrieved 18 December 2023.
- ^ Khalifa, Fursan (2021). "تأثيخ التخظيط االستخاتيجي عمى التظؾيخ اإلداري في القظاع الحكؾمي الفمدظيشي". alquds.edu. Retrieved 18 December 2023.
- ^ "فلسطين بوست | من منزل الأسير المحرر فرسان خليفة في طولكرم عقب الإعلان عن استشهاده في قطاع غزة". موقع نبض. Retrieved 18 December 2023.
- ^ Fabian, Emanuel (26 November 2023). "Hamas confirms senior commanders killed in earlier Gaza fighting". The Times of Israel.