A list of killings, kidnappings and other violent acts committed by Hamas since 1986 [ISR13679]

The following is an account of press reports of Hamas' involvement in kidnappings, killings and other violent acts.

Hamas was formed in December 1987, shortly before the commencement of the intifada (Jeune Afrique, 11-17 Mar. 1993, 13; The Middle East Feb. 1993, 9-10). In its early days it was most active in Hebron and Gaza, but its influence and activities have spread to other areas of Israel (Ibid. 14). According to Article 7 of Hamas' covenant, Hamas is a chain in the jihad against Zionism (Contemporary Mideast Backgrounder 1988, 6).

Random acts of violence were carried out in the name of Hamas in its early years (The Middle East Feb. 1993, 10), but it had difficulty mobilizing people to engage in violence and terrorism (Policy Focus Oct. 1988, 10).

In January 1990 Mohammed Halabi claimed to have been recruited by Hamas, and he confessed to murdering 7 people to prove that he was not working as an informer for the Israeli security service (Newsday 25 Jan. 1990). Also in January 1990 a trial commenced in which Sheikh Yassin, the leader of Hamas, was charged with several offenses, including the May 1989 murder of two soldiers and conspiracy to murder residents suspected of collaborating with Israeli authorities (Revolutionary and Dissident Movements 1991, 255; BBC Summary 4 Jan. 1990).

In the aftermath of the Temple Mount massacre in October 1990, Hamas supporters launched knifing attacks on Israelis, the most serious of which resulted in the deaths of 3 factory workers in Jaffa in December 1990 (Revolutionary and Dissident Movements 1991, 255).

In 1991 three Hebron-based members of Hamas were convicted of planting bombs and throwing molotov cocktails (The Jerusalem Post 15 Mar. 1991). In June 1991 tensions heightened between Hamas and the Fatah group, and Hamas supporters reportedly carried out an attack on Fatah member Amar Masruji (The Jerusalem Post 3 June 1991). Apparently Masruji was shot and then stabbed while having his gunshot wounds operated on (Ibid.). The tensions between the two groups were reportedly caused by Fatah's support for talks with the U.S. regarding peace in the Middle East (Ibid.).

In January 1992, to protest such peace talks, Hamas called for attacks on Israeli police and settlers (AFP 8 Jan. 1992).

Qassam, officially the Martyr Sheikh Al Ezz-Edin al Qassam military wing of Hamas, surfaced in January 1991 and reportedly killed an Israeli soldier in May 1992 (Reuters 14 Dec. 1992). Qassam also claimed responsibility for attacks in December 1992 which resulted in the deaths of 5 Israeli soldiers (Reuters 14 Dec. 1992; The Ottawa Citizen 18 Dec. 1992; Reuters 13 Dec. 1992).

Qassam reportedly kidnapped Nissim Toledano, a border guard, on 13 December 1992 and demanded the release of Sheikh Yassin in return for the guard's release (The Independent 14 Dec. 1992; Reuters 13 Dec. 1992; The Ottawa Citizen 18 Dec. 1992), but Toledano's body was found on 15 December 1992 (The Ottawa Citizen 18 Dec. 1992).

In December, with the escalating violence and the deportation of 417 suspected Hamas and Islamic Jihad activists, Hamas and Fatah agreed to collaborate and called for cooperation between the two groups in launching gang violence against Israeli forces (The Washington Post 21 Dec. 1992)

The beginning of 1993 saw violence against Israeli Defence Forces in Hebron, allegedly carried out by Qassam members (BBC Summary 8 Jan. 1993). Qassam reportedly admitted to killing army reservist Shmuel Geresh and it is also suspected of responsibility for 5 other attacks on IDF targets in Hebron; these attacks resulted in 2 soldiers being killed and 6 wounded (Ibid.)

Israeli authorities suspect Hamas of being responsible for the killing of Israeli intelligence agent Haim Nahmani on 3 January 1993 (AFP 3 Jan. 1993 and 5 Jan. 1993).

The 30 January saw two more Israeli soldiers killed in an ambush in the Gaza strip (BBC Summary 1 Feb. 1993). A message was reportedly left by Qassam claiming responsibility for the killings (Ibid.).

The most recent available report of Hamas' involvement in killings was published in the Jerusalem Post in February 1993. The report claims that Hamas has been kidnapping and murdering drug addicts and dealers for corrupting the morals of society; apparently some addicts had become informants in order to pay for their habits (22 Feb. 1993).

For more information on Hamas see Response to Information Request ISR13278, which is available in your regional documentation centre. Additional or corroborative information on the above topic is currently unavailable to the DIRB.

References

Agence France Presse (AFP). 5 January 1993. "Israelis Question Palestinians in Hunt for Undercover Agent Killers." (NEXIS)

. 3 January 1993. "Hamas Militant Kills Israeli Intelligence Agent: Minister." (NEXIS)

. 8 January 1992. "Two PLO Factions Call for Attacks on Israeli Settlers, Soldiers." (NEXIS)

BBC Summary of World Broadcasts. 1 February 1993. "The Deportees and Related Issues; Two Israeli Soldiers Killed in Gaza Strip Ambush." (NEXIS)

. 8 January 1993. "Israel; Members of Hamas 'Hit Squads' Arrested in Hebron Area." (NEXIS)

. 4 January 1990. "Israel Hamas Leader Charged with Conspiracy to Murder." (NEXIS)

Contemporary Mideast Backgrounder. October 1988. No. 251. "The Covenant of the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas)."

The Independent. 14 December 1992. Sarah Helm. "Israelis on Alert After Kidnap to Free Sheikh." (NEXIS)

The Jerusalem Post. 22 February 1993. "Rabin Asked to Help Reopen Arab Drug Rehabilitation Facility." (NEXIS)

. 3 June 1991. Jon Immanuel. "Hamas Gunmen Shoot Fatah Activist in Nablus." (NEXIS)

. 15 March 1991. "3 Hamas Men Sentenced." (NEXIS)

Jeune Afrique. 11-17 March 1993. Marc Yared. "Hamas. Les islamistes des Territoires occupés sont devenus, en quelques mois, l'ennemi numéro un d'Isräel. Voici pourquoi."

The Middle East. February 1993. Wendy Kristianasen. "Hamas Makes it to Centrestage."

Newsday. 25 January 1990. "Arab Killer Sentenced." (NEXIS)

The Ottawa Citizen. 18 December 1992. Valley Edition. "Israel Ignores Protests, Deports Militant Muslims." (NEXIS)

Policy Focus [Washington]. October 1988. No. 7. Robert Satloff. "Islam in the Palestinian Uprising."

Reuters. 23 December 1992. BC Cycle. "Arabs Kidnap Israeli, Demand Sheikh's Release." (NEXIS)

. 14 December 1992. BC Cycle. Taher Shriteh. "Moslem Guerrillas are Israel's Deadliest Foes." (NEXIS)

Revolutionary and Dissident Movements: An International Guide. 1991. 3rd ed. London: Longman Current Affairs.

The Washington Post. 21 December 1992. David Hoffman. "Palestinian Rivals Make Joint Appeal; Israeli Expulsions Unite Hamas and Fatah in Call for Protests." (NEXIS)

Attachments

Agence France Presse (AFP). 5 January 1993. "Israelis Question Palestinians in Hunt for Undercover Agent Killers." (NEXIS)

. 3 January 1993. "Hamas Militant Kills Israeli Intelligence Agent: Minister." (NEXIS)

. 8 January 1992. "Two PLO Factions Call for Attacks on Israeli Settlers, Soldiers." (NEXIS)

BBC Summary of World Broadcasts. 1 February 1993. "The Deportees and Related Issues; Two Israeli Soldiers Killed in Gaza Strip Ambush." (NEXIS)

. 8 January 1993. "Israel; Members of Hamas 'Hit Squads' Arrested in Hebron Area." (NEXIS)

. 4 January 1990. "Israel Hamas Leader Charged with Conspiracy to Murder." (NEXIS)

Contemporary Mideast Backgrounder. October 1988. No. 251 "The Covenant of the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas).", p. 7.

The Independent. 14 December 1992. Sarah Helm. "Israelis on Alert After Kidnap to Free Sheikh." (NEXIS)

The Jerusalem Post. 22 February 1993. "Rabin Asked to Help Reopen Arab Drug Rehabilitation Facility." (NEXIS)

. 3 June 1991. Jon Immanuel. "Hamas Gunmen Shoot Fatah Activist in Nablus." (NEXIS)

. 15 March 1991. "3 Hamas Men Sentenced." (NEXIS)

Jeune Afrique. 11-17 March 1993. Marc Yared. "Hamas. Les islamistes des Territoires occupés sont devenus, en quelques mois, l'ennemi numéro un d'Isräel. Voici pourquoi.", pp. 12-16.

The Middle East. February 1993. Wendy Kristianasen. "Hamas Makes it to Centrestage.", pp. 9-10.

Newsday. 25 January 1990. "Arab Killer Sentenced." (NEXIS)

The Ottawa Citizen. 18 December 1992. Valley Edition. "Israel Ignores Protests, Deports Militant Muslims." (NEXIS)

Policy Focus. October 1988. No. 7. Robert Satloff. "Islam in the Palestinian Uprising.", p. 10.

Reuters. 23 December 1992. BC Cycle. "Arabs Kidnap Israeli, Demand Sheikh's Release." (NEXIS)

. 14 December 1992. BC Cycle. Taher Shriteh. "Moslem Guerrillas are Israel's Deadliest Foes." (NEXIS)

Revolutionary and Dissident Movements: An International Guide. 1991. 3rd ed. London: Longman Current Affairs, pp. 254-255.

The Washington Post. 21 December 1992. David Hoffman. "Palestinian Rivals Make Joint Appeal; Israeli Expulsions Unite Hamas and Fatah in Call for Protests." (NEXIS)