Overview
Marwan Issa is the U.S.-designated deputy commander of the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, Hamas’s military wing. Some sources claim Issa was named the group’s leader following the death of Ahmed Jaabari in an Israeli attack in 2012. However, Issa remains deputy commander to Hamas leader Mohammed Deif, but serves as a representative for the Brigades in Hamas’s political bureau.Elior Levy, “Head of Hamas' military wing makes rare appearance,” Ynetnews, March 1, 2015, https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4632278,00.html; Adnan Abu Amer, “Hamas won't give up military wing despite agreement,” Al-Monitor, May 2, 2014, https://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2014/05/qassam-weapons-hamas-fatah-reconciliation.html#ixzz6ZWmOjonx; Brandon Friendman, “Another Gaza War?” Foreign Policy Research Institute, November 13, 2018, https://www.fpri.org/article/2018/11/another-gaza-war/. Israel accuses Issa of helping plan Hamas’s October 7, 2023, attack, which killed approximately 1,200 people.“Samia Nakhoul, James Mackenzie and Phil Stewart, “Insight: Israel’s most wanted: the three Hamas leaders in Gaza it aims to kill,” Reuters, December 1, 2023, https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/israels-most-wanted-three-hamas-commanders-gaza-it-must-kill-2023-12-01/.
Born in a refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip, not much else is known about Issa’s years about before joining Hamas. According to scholars at the Meir Amit Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center, Issa was previously responsible for Hamas’s special operations unit where he associated closely with the external leadership. Issa reportedly led the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades in the central Gaza Strip.“Elections to the Hamas Political Bureau in the Gaza Strip: Overview and Significance,” Meir Amit Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center, February 22, 2017, https://www.terrorism-info.org.il/Data/articles/Art_21158/E_035_17_312810974.pdf.
Furthermore, Issa was incarcerated in Israel for five years for his involvement in terrorist attacks. However, no specific dates or information regarding his participation in terrorist attacks have been made available regarding his detention. It is further alleged that Issa survived an Israel Defense Force (IDF) attempt to assassinate him in 2006.“Elections to the Hamas Political Bureau in the Gaza Strip: Overview and Significance,” Meir Amit Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center, February 22, 2017, https://www.terrorism-info.org.il/Data/articles/Art_21158/E_035_17_312810974.pdf.
On November 14, 2012, the IDF carried out several airstrikes in the Gaza Strip, killing Ahmed Jaabari, the leader of the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, Issa was also targeted in the strikes but survived.Bill Rogio, “Israel Kills Top Hamas Military Commander in Gaza Airstrike,” Foundation for the Defense of Democracies, November 14, 2012, https://www.fdd.org/analysis/op-eds/2012/11/14/israel-kills-top-hamas-military-commander-in-gaza-airstrike/.
On June 25, 2006, a group of Palestinian terrorists representing multiple terrorist groups, reportedly including Hamas, launched a cross-border raid into Israel and captured 19-year-old Corporal Gilad Shalit.Tim Butcher, “Soldier Kidnapped and Two Killed in Gaza Tunnel Attack,” Telegraph (London), June 26, 2006, http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/israel/1522370/Soldier-kidnapped-and-two-killed-in-Gaza-tunnel-attack.html; Steven Erlanger, “Tensions Rise After Israeli Is Kidnapped,” New York Times, June 26, 2006, http://www.nytimes.com/2006/06/26/world/middleeast/26cnd-mideast.html. Hamas held Shalit a negotiated October 2011 prisoner exchange for 1,027 Palestinian prisoners in Israeli custody.Jeffrey Heller and Nidal al-Mughrabi, “Israel and Hamas Agree Prisoner Swap to Free Shalit,” Reuters, October 11, 2011, http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/10/11/us-israel-palestinians-shalit-idUSTRE79A58R20111011. Issa reportedly played a role in arranging the prisoner exchange.“Samia Nakhoul, James Mackenzie and Phil Stewart, “Insight: Israel's most wanted: the three Hamas leaders in Gaza it aims to kill,” Reuters, December 1, 2023, https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/israels-most-wanted-three-hamas-commanders-gaza-it-must-kill-2023-12-01/.
In a rare appearance at a conference organized by an undisclosed think tank linked to Hamas in March 2015, Issa addressed a February 3, 2015 ruling by the Egyptian court that blacklisted the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, as well as Hamas as a terror group.Elior Levy, “Head of Hamas' military wing makes rare appearance,” Ynetnews, March 1, 2015, https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4632278,00.html. Issa claimed Hamas was not seeking a military confrontation with Israel, but sought to double its force for a future confrontation by manufacturing its own rockets. He also claimed that Hamas sought to forge regional alliances that would allow it to procure additional arms.“Elections to the Hamas Political Bureau in the Gaza Strip: Overview and Significance,” Meir Amit Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center, February 22, 2017, https://www.terrorism-info.org.il/Data/articles/Art_21158/E_035_17_312810974.pdf; Elior Levy, “Head of Hamas' military wing makes rare appearance,” Ynetnews, March 1, 2015, https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4632278,00.html.
In January 2019, Hamas operatives reportedly discovered and disassembled spyware equipment placed in a home adjacent to that of Issa’s. The device was allegedly placed by a “collaborator” who sought to record audio from Issa’s home and send it to Israel in an effort to circumvent recent changes in Issa’s use of communication technology. The “collaborator” was allegedly arrested by unidentified Palestinian operatives, who later discovered a larger network of spyware across the Gaza Strip.Adam Rasgon, “Hamas Claims to Foil Israeli Attempt to Spy on One of its Gaza Leaders,” Times of Israel, January 21, 2019, https://www.timesofisrael.com/hamas-claims-it-foiled-israeli-attempt-to-spy-on-military-leader-in-gaza/.
On September 10, 2019, the U.S. Department of State designated Issa as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist for his role in Hamas.“Terrorist Designations under Amended Executive Order to Modernize Sanctions to Combat Terrorism,” U.S. Department of State, September 10, 2019, https://www.state.gov/terrorist-designations-under-amended-executive-order-to-modernize-sanctions-to-combat-terrorism/.
In February 2020, it was reported that Israel planned to assassinate Issa and Hamas leader Yahya al-Sinwar. Upon learning of the plot, Egyptian intelligence officials traveled to Israel to persuade them not to carry out the assassinations. The Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades responded that their leaders do not fear assassination and will continue pursuing their resistance against Israel.“Egypt warned Israel not to assassinate Hamas leaders in Gaza,” Middle East Monitor, February 19, 2020, https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20200219-egypt-warned-israel-not-to-assassinate-hamas-leaders-in-gaza/.
In January 2021, former Hamas commander Basel Salahiya alleged that Israel created 430 tunnels into Gaza in preparation for a surprise attack. He accused senior Hamas leaders, including Issa, of being aware of the tunnels’ existence but keeping the knowledge secret from the Palestinian public. Hamas officials, however, stated that Salahiya’s allegations were false, and seek to “hurt the morale of Hamas operatives and the Palestinian public in the Gaza strip, in light of his removal from the organization.”Baruch Yedid, Disgraced Hamas Commander Claims IDF Has Attack Tunnels Running into Gaza,” Jewish Press, January 6, 2021, https://www.jewishpress.com/news/eye-on-palestine/hamas/disgraced-hamas-commander-claims-idf-has-attack-tunnels-running-into-gaza/2021/01/06/.
On October 7, 2023, Hamas launched a barrage of rockets toward Israel, while Hamas fighters cross into Israel from Gaza via motorcycles, pickup trucks, paragliders, and speed boats in an unprecedented assault by the terror group during the Jewish holidays of Shemini Atzeret and Shabbat. Hamas had launched at least 3,500 rockets toward Israel by the end of the day. Hamas killed at least 1,200 people and captured approximately 240 civilian and military hostages.Josef Federman and Issam Adwan, “Hamas surprise attack out of Gaza stuns Israel and leaves hundreds dead in fighting, retaliation,” Associated Press, October 7, 2023, https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-gaza-hamas-rockets-airstrikes-tel-aviv-11fb98655c256d54ecb5329284fc37d2; “Israel revises Hamas attack death toll to ‘around 1,200,’” Reuters, November 10, 2023, https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/israel-revises-death-toll-oct-7-hamas-attack-around-1200-2023-11-10/. Deif called for all-out war on Israel and called on Palestinians in east Jerusalem and the West Bank to join in the fighting. He labeled Hamas’s attack “Operation Al-Aqsa Storm,” calling it a response to the Israeli-Egyptian blockade of Gaza, Israeli raids inside West Bank cities over the past year, and violence at the Al-Aqsa Mosque.Josef Federman and Issam Adwan, “Hamas surprise attack out of Gaza stuns Israel and leaves hundreds dead in fighting, retaliation,” Associated Press, October 7, 2023, https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-gaza-hamas-rockets-airstrikes-tel-aviv-11fb98655c256d54ecb5329284fc37d2; Josef Federman and Issam Adwan, “Hamas surprise attack out of Gaza stuns Israel and leaves hundreds dead in fighting, retaliation,” Associated Press, October 7, 2023, https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-gaza-hamas-rockets-airstrikes-tel-aviv-11fb98655c256d54ecb5329284fc37d2; Seth J. Frantzman, “Hamas terror commander Deif calls for all out war on Israel,” Jerusalem Post, October 7, 2023, https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-762052. Israel declared war on Hamas and launched an offensive in Gaza to uproot the terrorist group.Eyad Kourdi and Jonny Hallam, “Hamas claims to be holding more than 100 hostages, including Israeli army officers,” CNN, October 8, 2023, https://www.cnn.com/middleeast/live-news/israel-hamas-gaza-attack-10-08-23/h_97798904006dac1bcebd4ec84e359b33. Israel’s military leaders named Issa, Deif, and Hamas’ Gaza leader Yahya Sinwar as their most-wanted in Gaza as they rooted out Hamas’s infrastructure. Israeli military leaders warned all three were on a kill list. Israel accused all three of forming a military council that planned and executed the October 7 attack.“Samia Nakhoul, James Mackenzie and Phil Stewart, “Insight: Israel’s most wanted: the three Hamas leaders in Gaza it aims to kill,” Reuters, December 1, 2023, https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/israels-most-wanted-three-hamas-commanders-gaza-it-must-kill-2023-12-01/. The European Union added Issa and Deif to its list of designated terrorists on December 8.“Fight against terrorism: Council adds two individuals to the EU terrorist list in response to the 7 October attacks,” European Council – Council of the European Union, December 8, 2023, https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2023/12/08/fight-against-terrorism-council-adds-two-individuals-to-the-eu-terrorist-list-in-response-to-the-7-october-attacks/.
Associated Groups
- Extremist entity
- Hamas
- Read Threat Report
- Type(s) of Organization:
- Political, religious, social service provider, terrorist, violent
- Ideologies and Affiliations:
- Islamist, jihadist, Muslim Brotherhood-affiliated group, pan-Islamist, Qutbist, Sunni
- Position(s):
- Deputy commander of the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades
Hamas is a U.S.-designated terrorist organization which has killed hundreds of Israeli citizens, as well as Americans, in suicide bombings and other terrorist attacks. Hamas has governed the Gaza Strip since it violently expelled the Palestinian Authority in 2007.
History
United States
The U.S. Department of State designated Marwan Issa as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist on September 10, 2019.“Terrorist Designations under Amended Executive Order to Modernize Sanctions to Combat Terrorism,” U.S. Department of State, September 10, 2019, https://www.state.gov/terrorist-designations-under-amended-executive-order-to-modernize-sanctions-to-combat-terrorism/.
European Union
The European Union added Marwan Issa to its terrorism list on December 8, 2023.“Fight against terrorism: Council adds two individuals to the EU terrorist list in response to the 7 October attacks,” European Council – Council of the European Union, December 8, 2023, https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2023/12/08/fight-against-terrorism-council-adds-two-individuals-to-the-eu-terrorist-list-in-response-to-the-7-october-attacks/.
Daily Dose
Extremists: Their Words. Their Actions.
Fact:
On January 23, 2019, two car bombs exploded outside of a mosque in Benghazi, Libya, killing 41 people and injuring 80 others. No group claimed responsibility for the blast, but remnants suggested an ISIS affiliate was responsible.