16 July 2002

In the name of Allah the most Gracious the most Merciful

Military communiqué

The Qassam Brigades take responsibility for the Emanuel operation

Tuesday 6^th Jumada Awal 1423H – 16/7/2002AD

“…and they thought that their fortresses would defend them from Allah! But the (Wrath of Allah) came to them from quarters from which they little expected (it), and cast terror into their hearts, so that they destroyed their dwellings by their own hands and the hands of the Believers. Take warning, then, O ye with eyes (to see)!”

Siege and curfews would not prevent us 
from striking Zionists anywhere …

Our Mujahid Palestinian people … our Arab and Islamic Ummah:

With the grace of Allah the Qassam Brigades declare responsibility for the heroic operation that was carried out this afternoon Tuesday 6^th Jumada Awal 1423H – 16/7/2002AD. One of our Jihad units planted a number of explosive devices near the gates of the settlement of Emanuel, established on our occupied lands, at 14:40 Quds time. The Mujahideen blasted the devices when a bus-load of settlers approached the area then hurled the hand grenades in their possession at the target after which they showered the bus with machinegun fire. The unit members returned safely to base thanks to Allah.

The Qassam Brigades affirm that the unit was the same one that carried out an operation in the same area last December killing 11 Zionists and wounding scores others.

The Qassam Brigades offer this operation as a gift for our Mujahid people and would like to affirm the following:

1- The Qassam Brigades have sworn to deal blows to the Zionists wherever our Mujahideen could reach them in Palestine until they pack up and leave our lands in humiliation.

2- The Qassam Brigades affirm that the march of Jihad and resistance would continue unabated God willing.

3- We ask the factions that adopted that operation to deny their statements the soonest because the Qassam Brigades own enough evidence on their responsibility and would publish details of the operation later on God willing.

And it is a Jihad until victory or martyrdom

Qassam Brigades
Tuesday 6^th Jumada Awal 1423H
16/7/2002AD