Jihad Shehadeh | |
---|---|
Native name | جهاد مهراج إبراهيم عبد الوهاب شحادة |
Birth name | Jihad Maharaj Ibrahim Abdul Wahab Shehadeh |
Born | Tulkarm Camp, West Bank | 18 February 1999
Died | 6 November 2023 Tulkarm, West Bank | (aged 24)
Cause of death | Shot |
Allegiance | Palestine |
Service/ | al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade |
Rank | Major General |
Jihad Maharaj Ibrahim Abdul Wahab Shehadeh ( Arabic: جهاد مهراج إبراهيم عبد الوهاب شحادة; 18 February 1999 – 6 November 2023) was a Palestinian military commander [1] and co-founder of the Tulkarm Battalion. [2] [3] [4] [5] He was one of Israel's most wanted, as he was accused of directing and carrying out a series of shootings at IDF forces at Israeli military checkpoints. [6]
Shehadeh was born to a family from the Tulkarm refugee camp, attending various schools in his youth.
He co-founded the Tulkarm Battalion - Rapid Response military branch with Amir Abu Khadija, and Shehadeh later took total command of it. [5] Israeli intelligence forces requested Shehadeh to surrender himself several times throughout his career, to which he declined. He was placed at the district headquarters for al-Qassam for three months in hiding, and then subsequently left to return to military activity. [7] He became one of Israel's most wanted and the Shin Bet accused him of carrying out many shootings at Israeli military checkpoints. [6]
Shehadeh had been arrested multiple times by Israel previously, and spent several months in prison, [8] along with his father Brigadier general "Maharaj Shehadeh", who had been arrested by Israel in 2001 and released in 2016 due to his activity in the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades. [7]
Shehadeh was assassinated by Israeli forces in a special operation in Tulkarm on 6 November 2023 by firing 100 bullets at his moving vehicle, which he was using along with fellow Tulkarm combattant Izz al-Din Raed Award and others of the al-Qassam Brigades. Their bodies were transferred to Martyr Dr. Thabet Thabet Governmental Hospital. They died of their injuries, according to an announcement by the Palestinian Ministry of Health. [9] [10] [11]