Amir Abu Khadijeh
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Amir Imad Amin Abu Khadijeh (Arabic: أمير عماد أمين أبو خديجة; January 13, 1999 – March 23, 2023) was a Palestinian militant and former leader of the Tulkarm Brigade.[1][2] He was from the city of Tulkarm.[3][4] According to Israeli sources, Abu Khadijeh, who was involved in multiple shooting incidents towards civilians in the area and security forces operating at the Tanim checkpoint, was located and targeted by Israeli Defense Forces (IDF), Border Police Anti-Terrorism units, following intelligence gathered by the Shin Bet. The operation took place in a village near Tulkarm. As the forces surrounded the house where Abu Khadijeh was hiding, he attempted to shoot at undercover Border Police officers from a window but was shot and wounded. The forces entered the apartment, and Abu Khadijeh, attempting to shoot again, was killed.[5][6][7][8][9][10]
During the operation, an M16 rifle and other combat equipment were seized, and his vehicle was confiscated. A key accomplice who was with the suspect in the apartment surrendered to the forces, was arrested, and transferred to the Shin Bet for interrogation. There were no casualties among the Israeli security forces.[5]
Amir Imad Amin Abu Khadija was born on January 13, 1999, in Gaza. At the time, his father, Imad Abu Khadija, was working as a government employee there following the establishment of the Palestinian National Authority.[11][3][12]
Abu Khadija moved with his family to the eastern district of Tulkarm, his father's home, as a child,[12] and was educated in a number of schools there, including the Abdul Majeed Tayeh School for Boys, and after he finished high school, he joined the Palestine Technical University Khadouri in sports.[3] His father worked as director of computer and information systems at the Palestinian Ministry of Social Development in the West Bank.[13][14]
Abu Khadija joined the Palestinian Authority's Palestinian Presidential Guard military, but was dismissed from it after being presented to a military court in 2019, as a result of a relationship in an act of resistance;[15] he moved to freelance as a construction workshop and also a driver of a private transport vehicle in Tulkarm, and was detained by Israel for about a year.[3]
Militant career
A while before his death, Amir Abu Khadija founded the Rapid Response Group, meant to be the "special forces" of the Tulkarm Battalion and took over the whole group.[16][17]
Amir Abu Khadija significantly expanded the battalion's activity, and under his reign the battalion included fighters affiliated with Fatah, PIJ, PFLP, Hamas and other Palestinian organizations.[18]
Abu Khadija had read the first statement of the battalion at the first press conference held by the battalion in Gamal Abdel Nasser Square in the center of Tulkarm city on February 22, 2023.[3]
Israel accused him of carrying out and directing a series of shooting attacks on IDF forces and on Israeli checkpoints and settlements.[18]
In early March 2023, the Palestinian Authority went to arrest him, but there were angry demonstrations in the city of Tulkarm for several days in a row,[18] confrontations broke out between Palestinian youths and the Palestinian security forces, including the closure of streets by young men and the breaking of light signals in the city.[19] Palestinian security forces responded by firing tear grenades and stun grenades.[20][21][22][23][24][25][26]
Death
After a long pursuit of Abu Khadijeh by Israel,[27] Israeli special forces managed to kill him by using the Mista'arvim, the Shin Bet, the IDF and the Border Guards in a military operation during which they besieged a house in which he was holed up in the southern suburb of the city of Tulkarm on Thursday, March 23, 2023, the first day of Ramadan.[28][29][30][31] He shot at Israeli forces who fired more than 40 bullets at him.[32]
The Palestinian Ministry of Health said that Abu Khadija had arrived at a hospital in the city of Tulkarm, and died after being shot in the head and lower limbs; his brain was torn.[33][34] The killing of Abu Khadija came in light of a pledge by Palestinian and Israeli leaders that had been made on March 19, 2023, which aimed to reduce tension during Ramadan.[35][36]
The news of Abu Khadija's death had a big impact in the Palestinian territories.[3] Following the killing, Fatah announced a mass strike.[37]
Funeral
Thousands of Palestinians participated in the funeral procession of Abu Khadija in the streets of Tulkarm. The funeral ceremony was launched from Thabet Government Hospital towards his hometown in the eastern neighborhood of the city, and then to the new mosque in the city center, where funeral prayers were performed. He was buried in the city's western cemetery.[38]
Reactions
Israel – An IDF spokesman announced that Amir Abu Khadijeh had participated in several shootings targeting Israeli soldiers in recent months, and that he was planning other imminent attacks.[39][18]
Palestinian National Authority – The PNA mourned Abu Khadijeh by government spokesman Ibrahim Melhem.[40]- Tulkarm Battalion – The Tulkarm Battalion said, "we are on the way, we will not rest and we will not retreat, the revenge of our prince we will realize it soon."[41][42]
- Lions' Den – Lions' Den said in a statement that they "are proud of the martyr, the leader, the founder of the Tulkarm Battalion, Amir Abu Khadija".[43][44][45][46]
- Palestinian Islamic Jihad – The PIJ mourned Abu Khadija, and the movement said in the words of its leader, Ahmed Al-Mudallal, “The pure blood of the leader on the first day of Ramadan will move in the arteries of the rebellious youth. The blood of Amir Abu Khadijeh is the bullet that announces a new launch and surprises that the occupation will not bear in the month of Ramadan and beyond, and the blood of Amir will mark the beginning of the demise of the occupation."[47][48][49]
- Fatah – The Fatah movement declared a mass strike all over Palestine in mourning for his soul.[50][51]
- Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades - Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades announced that "the martyr and the commander, Amir Abu Khadija, who rose to a cowardly assassination carried out by a special force of the enemy army."[52]
- Hamas – Hamas said in a press statement, “The occupation’s targeting of our heroic resistance will not stop the march of resistance, and it will not scare our people either.”[53][54]
- Democratic Reform Movement – The Democratic Reform Movement mourned Abu Khadija, and insulted the Israeli government.[55]
- Popular Resistance Committees – The PRC said, “the blood of the pure martyrs will be fuel for revolution in the face of the Zionist enemy and curses that haunt it.”[56][57]
- Palestinian Freedom Movement - The PFM said, "The rise of the martyrs will not stop the march of the struggle, but rather increase the resistance and revolution of the Palestinians in the West Bank and Jerusalem, and their blood will not go to waste."[58]
References
- ↑ Zitun, Yoav; Halabi, Einav (23 March 2023). "Prominent terrorist killed by Israeli troops in West Bank raid". Ynetnews. Archived from the original on 23 March 2023. Retrieved 23 March 2023.
- ↑ "المدلل: دماء الشهيد القائد أبوخديجة إيذانٌ بمفاجآت لن يتحملها العدو خلال رمضان". www.saba.ye (in Arabic). 23 March 2023. Archived from the original on 23 March 2023. Retrieved 23 March 2023.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 "مؤسس كتيبة طولكرم وأول شهدائها.. من أمير أبو خديجة الذي اغتالته إسرائيل؟". Al Jazeera (in Arabic). 23 March 2023. Archived from the original on 23 March 2023. Retrieved 23 March 2023.
- ↑ "Amir Emad Abu Khadija". Israel-Palestine Timeline. 23 March 2023. Archived from the original on 24 March 2023. Retrieved 24 March 2023.
- 1 2 זיתון, יואב; חלבי, עינב (23 March 2023). "Amir Abu Khadijah Killed in Operation". Ynet. Retrieved 2024-01-08.
- ↑ "Special forces eliminate terrorist commander near Tulkarem". World Israel News. 23 March 2023. Archived from the original on 23 March 2023. Retrieved 23 March 2023.
- ↑ "Palestinian Armed Group Commander Killed in West Bank by Israeli Fire". صحيفة هاآرتس. 23 March 2023. Archived from the original on 23 March 2023. Retrieved 23 March 2023.
- ↑ "Israeli forces eliminate terrorist near West Bank's Tulkarm". /www.i24news.tv. 23 March 2023. Archived from the original on 23 March 2023. Retrieved 23 March 2023.
- ↑ Fabian, Emanuel (23 March 2023). "Wanted Palestinian gunman killed by Israeli forces in West Bank raid". The Times of Israel. Archived from the original on 23 March 2023. Retrieved 23 March 2023.
- ↑ "Israeli security forces kills terrorist near Tulkarm". The Jerusalem Post (in Arabic). 23 March 2023. Archived from the original on 23 March 2023. Retrieved 23 March 2023.
- ↑ السجل المدني الفلسطيني.
- 1 2 "آلاف الفلسطينيين يشيعون الشهيد أبو خديجة قائد "الرد السريع" في طولكرم". www.alaraby.co.uk (in Arabic). 23 March 2023. Archived from the original on 23 March 2023. Retrieved 23 March 2023.
- ↑ "الشؤون الاجتماعية في الخليل تقيم إفطارا للحالات الاجتماعية بالمحافظة". www.wafa.ps (in Arabic). 16 August 2011. Archived from the original on 24 March 2023. Retrieved 24 March 2023.
- ↑ "وفد رفيع المستوى من "التنمية الاجتماعية" يصل غزة". safa.ps (in Arabic). 16 February 2020. Archived from the original on 24 March 2023. Retrieved 24 March 2023.
- ↑ Mohamed.Hamamh. "الشهيد أمير أبو خديجة.. مقاوم حاول رد الاعتبار لـ"الرد السريع"". alaraby.co.uk (in Arabic). Archived from the original on 2023-11-09. Retrieved 2023-11-09.
- ↑ "West Bank Dispatch: The Tulkarem Brigade resists". Mondoweiss. 2023-08-28. Retrieved 2025-01-11.
- ↑ "قوات الاحتلال تغتال قائد كتيبة "طولكرم" أمير أبو خديجة". Al Araby. 2023-03-24. Archived from the original on 2023-03-24. Retrieved 2025-01-11.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link) - 1 2 3 4 "جيش الاحتلال: أبو خديجة نفذ عدة عمليات إطلاق النار". صحيفة الحدث (in Arabic). 2023-03-23. Archived from the original on 2023-03-23. Retrieved 2023-03-23.
- ↑ "بيان شجب واستنكار صادر عن حركة فتح وفصائل العمل الوطني ومؤسسات وفعاليات مخيم طولكرم". تلفزيون الفجر (in Arabic). 6 March 2023. Archived from the original on 6 March 2023. Retrieved 23 March 2023.
- ↑ "الأمن يقمع احتجاجات رافضة لملاحقة "كتيبة طولكرم".. ماذا يحدث؟". ألترا فلسطين (in Arabic). 5 March 2023. Archived from the original on 6 March 2023. Retrieved 23 March 2023.
- ↑ "السلطة الفلسطينية تحاول إيقاف جماعة مسلحة جديدة في الضفة الغربية". آي24نيوز (in Arabic). 6 March 2023. Archived from the original on 6 March 2023. Retrieved 23 March 2023.
- ↑ "توتر ومسيرات على خلفية ملاحقة السلطة الفلسطينية لـ"كتيبة طولكرم"". www.alaraby.co.uk (in Arabic). 2023-03-04. Archived from the original on 2023-03-06. Retrieved 2023-03-23.
- ↑ "بالفيديو والصور مواجهات بين المواطنين وقوات السلطة في طولكرم رفضًا لملاحقة المقاومين". shehabnews.com (in Arabic). 2023-03-04. Archived from the original on 6 March 2023. Retrieved 23 March 2023.
- ↑ "طولكرم الرد السريع.. المقاومة تستعيد ذكريات الزمن الجميل". qudsn.co (in Arabic). 6 March 2023. Archived from the original on 6 March 2023. Retrieved 23 March 2023.
- ↑ "Palestinian Authority trying to stop new armed group in West Bank". The Jerusalem Post. 6 March 2023. Archived from the original on 6 March 2023. Retrieved 23 March 2023.
- ↑ "كتيبة طولكرم لـ الترا فسطين: أعدادنا في ازدياد ونُنسق مع جنين ونابلس". Ultra Palestine (in Arabic). Archived from the original on 2023-03-23. Retrieved 2023-11-09.
- ↑ "بعد رحلة مطاردة من الاحتلال والسلطة.. استشهاد المقاوم أمير أبو خديجة بجريمة اغتيال بطولكرم". الشاهد (in Arabic). 23 March 2023. Archived from the original on 24 March 2023. Retrieved 24 March 2023.
- ↑ "مقتل أول فلسطيني في رمضان". جريدة الشرق الأوسط (in Arabic). 23 March 2023. Archived from the original on 23 March 2023. Retrieved 23 March 2023.
- ↑ "الأسرى ينتصرون في "بركان الحرية أو الشهادة"… اغتيال مؤسس "كتيبة طولكرم" واقتحامات للأقصى". almanar.com.lb (in Arabic). 2023-03-23. Archived from the original on 2023-03-23. Retrieved 2023-03-23.
- ↑ "Palestino morre ao ser atingido por tiros de soldados israelenses na Cisjordânia". noticias.uol.com.br (in Portuguese). Archived from the original on 2023-03-23. Retrieved 2023-03-23.
- ↑ "من هو الشهيد ابوخديجة كي يقوم الاحتلال باغتياله في طولكرم؟". www.alalam.ir (in Arabic). 2023-03-23. Archived from the original on 2023-03-23. Retrieved 2023-03-23.
- ↑ "تغطية صحفية: أكثر من 40 رصاصة أطلقت على أمير أبو خديجة لحظة اغتياله من قوات الاحتلال في طولكرم". nabd.com (in Arabic). 23 March 2023. Archived from the original on 23 March 2023. Retrieved 23 March 2023.
- ↑ "الاحتلال يغتال مؤسس وقائد كتيبة طولكرم". www.alquds.com (in Arabic). 2023-03-23. Archived from the original on 2023-03-23. Retrieved 2023-03-23.
- ↑ "استشهاد قائد "كتيبة طولكرم" في أول يوم من رمضان والمقاومة تتوعد الاحتلال "بمفاجآت لن يتحملها"". mubasher.aljazeera.net (in Arabic). 23 March 2023. Archived from the original on 23 March 2023. Retrieved 23 March 2023.
- ↑ "Israeli forces kill Palestinian in West Bank as Ramadan begins". Al Jazeera. 23 March 2023. Archived from the original on 24 March 2023. Retrieved 24 March 2023.
- ↑ "مقتل فلسطيني برصاص القوات الإسرائيلية في طولكرم بالضفة". www.alarabiya.net (in Arabic). 23 March 2023. Archived from the original on 23 March 2023. Retrieved 23 March 2023.
- ↑ "شهيد أول أيام رمضان.. طولكرم الفلسطينية تشيع جثمان أمير أبو خديجة". www.alghad.tv (in Arabic). 23 March 2023. Archived from the original on 23 March 2023. Retrieved 23 March 2023.
- ↑ "آلاف الفلسطينيين يشيعون الشهيد أبو خديجة قائد "الرد السريع" في طولكرم". العربي الجديد (in Arabic). 23 March 2023. Archived from the original on 23 March 2023. Retrieved 23 March 2023.
- ↑ Zitun, Yoav; Halabi, Einav (23 March 2023). "Prominent terrorist killed by Israeli troops in West Bank raid". يديعوت أحرونوت. Archived from the original on 23 March 2023. Retrieved 23 March 2023.
- ↑ "ملحم: الحكومة تجاوبت مع كل ما يلزم لعودة الدوام المدرسي إلى طبيعته بالضفة". وكالة سما الإخبارية (in Arabic). 23 March 2023. Archived from the original on 23 March 2023. Retrieved 23 March 2023.
- ↑ "90 شهيدًا منذ بداية العام.. قائد كتيبة طولكرم أبو خديجة يرتقي شهيدًا في أول أيام رمضان". شبكة قدس الإخبارية (in Arabic). 23 March 2023. Archived from the original on 23 March 2023. Retrieved 23 March 2023.
- ↑ "الاحتلال الإسرائيلي يقتل فلسطينيا ويشن حملة اعتقالات بالضفة". قناة الجزيرة (in Arabic). 23 March 2023. Archived from the original on 23 March 2023. Retrieved 23 March 2023.
- ↑ "عرين الأسود تتوعد بمحاسبة من خطط لعملية اغتيال الشهيد أبو خديجة". مصدر الإخبارية (in Arabic). 23 March 2023. Archived from the original on 23 March 2023. Retrieved 23 March 2023.
- ↑ ""عرين الأسود" تتعهد بمحاسبة من خطط أو تآمر أو دل على مقاومين". وكالة الصحافة الفلسطينية (صفا) (in Arabic). 23 March 2023. Archived from the original on 23 March 2023. Retrieved 23 March 2023.
- ↑ ""عرين الأسود" تصدر بيانًا تعقيبًا على اغتيال الشهيد أبو خديجة". شبكة راية الإعلامية (in Arabic). 23 March 2023. Archived from the original on 23 March 2023. Retrieved 23 March 2023.
- ↑ "العرين تزف "أبو خديجة": سنحاسب من خطط ومَن تآمرْ ومنّْ أعطى أيّْ معلومة أودت إلى إيذاء شهيد". وكالة شهاب للأنباء (in Arabic). 23 March 2023. Archived from the original on 23 March 2023. Retrieved 23 March 2023.
- ↑ "الجهاد: جريمة اغتيال أبو خديجة أول يوم رمضان تؤكد مواصلة الاحتلال عدوانه وهتك الحرمات". فلسطين اليوم (in Arabic). 23 March 2023. Archived from the original on 23 March 2023. Retrieved 23 March 2023.
- ↑ "الجهاد الإسلامي: دماء القائد أمير أبو خديجة إيذانٌ بمفاجآت لن يتحملها الاحتلال خلال رمضان". وكالة أنباء التقريب (in Arabic). 23 March 2023. Archived from the original on 23 March 2023. Retrieved 23 March 2023.
- ↑ "القيادي المدلل: دماء القائد أمير أبو خديجة إيذانٌ بمفاجآت لن يتحملها الاحتلال خلال رمضان". وكالة تسنيم الدولية للأنباء (in Arabic). 23 March 2023. Archived from the original on 23 March 2023. Retrieved 23 March 2023.
- ↑ "الشهيد أمير أبو خديجة". www.falestinona.com (in Arabic). 2023-03-23. Archived from the original on 2023-03-23. Retrieved 2023-03-23.
- ↑ "حدادًا على الشهيد أمير أبو خديجة.. إضراب شامل في طولكرم". msdrnews.com (in Arabic). 2023-03-23. Archived from the original on 2023-03-23. Retrieved 2023-03-23.
- ↑ "كتائب شهداء الأقصى – كتيبة طولكرم تزف شهيدها القائد أمير أبو خديجة، الذي ارتقى بعملية اغتيال جبانة نفذتها قوة خاصة من جيش العدو". العين (in Arabic). 23 March 2023. Archived from the original on 23 March 2023. Retrieved 23 March 2023.
- ↑ ""حماس" تزف الشهيد "أبو خديجة": لمواصلة ثورتنا المجيدة باستهداف قوات الاحتلال الفاشي". موقع العهد الإخباري (in Arabic). 23 March 2023. Archived from the original on 23 March 2023. Retrieved 23 March 2023.
- ↑ "حماس تنعى الشهيد أبو خديجة وتؤكد أنَّ اغتيال المقاومين لن يوقف ثورتنا". صحيفة فلسطين (in Arabic). 23 March 2023. Archived from the original on 23 March 2023. Retrieved 23 March 2023.
- ↑ "تيار الإصلاح الديمقراطي ينعى الشهيد أمير أبو خديجة". alkofiya.tv (in Arabic). 23 March 2023. Archived from the original on 23 March 2023. Retrieved 23 March 2023.
- ↑ "لجان المقاومة تنعى الشهيد أبو خديجة وتؤكد أنّ إجرام العدو لا يردعه سوى فوهات البنادق". فلسطين اليوم (in Arabic). 23 March 2023. Archived from the original on 23 March 2023. Retrieved 23 March 2023.
- ↑ "الجهاد وحماس ولجان المقاومة تنعى مؤسس كتيبة طولكرم". www.masirahtv.net (in Arabic). 23 March 2023. Archived from the original on 23 March 2023. Retrieved 23 March 2023.
- ↑ "فصائل تنعى الشهيد "أبو خديجة" وتدعو لتصعيد المقاومة". shehabnews.com (in Arabic). 23 March 2023. Archived from the original on 23 March 2023. Retrieved 23 March 2023.