The deputy leader of Hamas, who was probably killed by Israel, was important to the extremist organization both politically and militarily.
The deputy leader, commander of the Hamas terrorist organization, who died in an airplane attack on Tuesday Saleh al-Arouri served as deputy leader of the Hamas political party and was involved in the establishment of the Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas.
Commander al-Arouri and six other people were killed in an airstrike in Lebanon on Tuesday. In addition to Al-Arour, two other high-ranking members of Hamas were killed in the drone strike.
Israel is believed to be behind the attack, although the Israeli armed forces have not directly confirmed their involvement in the killing.
Prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu in November 2023 ordered Israel’s security service Mossad to track down the leadership of Hamas, The Times of Israel told. Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant has said Hamas leaders are living on “borrowed time”.
After Al-Arour’s death, the Prime Minister of Israel Benjamin Netanyahu adviser Mark Regev comment on the attack briefly calling it a “direct strike against the Hamas leadership”.
Saleh al-Arouri joined Hamas in 1987.
The Times of Israel reported that al-Arouri has been considered the de facto leader of Hamas’ military wing in the West Bank. He was involved in strengthening the extremist group’s military presence in the occupied West Bank area.
In 1992, Israel captured al-Arour and sentenced him to 15 years in prison for establishing military cells in the West Bank.
In 2010, al-Arour was released by Israel’s Supreme Court.
After his release, al-Arouri worked as a negotiator for the release of Palestinian prisoners.
In October 2011, he participated in negotiations with an Israeli soldier By Gilad Shalit from being exchanged for Palestinian prisoners. In the prisoner exchange, Israel released more than 1,000 Palestinians.
After his prison sentence, al-Arouri lived in Syria and Turkey, but eventually settled in Lebanon. The 57-year-old al-Arour is said to have had close relations with the leaders of the Lebanese Hezbollah organization.
From 2021, al-Arouri led Hamas operations in the West Bank from Lebanon.
Israel and the Hezbollah group have clashed in the border area
According to Lebanese media, al-Arouri was killed in an Israeli drone strike in the southern Beirut suburb of Dahiyeh. It is the first time during the Gaza war that Israel has struck deeper into the Lebanese border areas.
Interim Prime Minister of Lebanon Najib Mikati condemned the attack and accused Israel of dragging Lebanon into the conflict between Hamas and Israel.