The media reports Monday of the possible death of Marwan Issa, the deputy head of Hamas's military wing, in a recent airstrike in the central Gaza Strip, might be a game changer in the IDF's crackdown on terrorism.
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The assassination would mark the elimination of not only a senior leader within the terror group, but a veteran symbol of terrorism in the strip.
Video: Israeli military steps up strikes on Hamas in Gaza's Khan Younis / Credit: IDF
Issa is considered one of the most ruthless and dangerous terrorists to ever fill the ranks of Hamas. Born in Al-Bureij in Gaza, he joined Hamas at a young age and spent five years in an Israeli prison for terrorist activity. He was also held in custody by the Palestinian Authority but was released at the beginning of the Second Intifada.
Issa played a vital role in Hamas' takeover of Gaza in 2007 and even ordered the killing of three Fatah prisoners at the time.
Before Israel disengaged from Gaza in 2005, the IDF considered Issa to be responsible for Hamas attacks on Israeli settlements and apparently was the first in Hamas to plan complex infiltration operations with the intention of seizing control of settlements. Issa was injured in 2006 during an assassination attempt on Hamas leadership in the enclave.
As a member of Hamas' military wing, Issa rarely appears in public. In 2011, he took an active part in the negotiations that saw the release of IDF soldier Gilad Schalit, and in 2015, participated occasionally in Hamas conferences, calling for the terror group to double its manpower ahead of a future confrontation with Israel.
Issa's brother and eldest son were killed by the IDF during riots near the border fence in 2018. Egypt refused to provide medical assistance to the injured terrorist, thus sealing his fate.
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