17 May 2002

In the name of Allah the most Gracious the most merciful

 Press Release

On the attempt to arrest Mujahid leader

Jamal Abdul Salam Abul Haija (Abul Abed)

In continuation of the arrogant policy and the prosecution of our people’s Mujahideen and in the light of the useless talks, meetings and conferences that would not bring anything new for the interest of our people, Zionist occupation forces stormed the city of Jenin and its refugee camp. On Friday 17/5/2002 at 2.30 am the Zionist Special Forces encircled the house of Mujahid Jamal Abdul Salam Abul Haija, one of the Movement’s leaders. The occupation soldiers, in full combat gear, stormed the house after opening holes in the wall of the ground floor’s rooms then reached the first floor through the inner staircase that is used for water and sewerage pipes. As usual the soldiers used arms to frighten family of the Mujahid Abul Abed and beat up his children. The soldiers took the family members out of the house and put them together with family of martyr Mahmoud Mousa then they blew up and burnt the house completely. They were not content with this crime but also exploded all electrical appliances in the house and damaged the furniture of wife of martyr Mahmoud Mousa who used to live in the ground floor of the house. Her house was burnt completely during the Jenin refugee camp battle.

The Zionist occupation soldiers, who were more than a hundred backed by tanks, armored vehicles and jeeps, withdrew from the house only after making sure that fire had burnt it completely. The fire led to dangerous cracks in the house’s foundations.

On the other hand, occupation soldiers patrolled the streets and used loudspeakers to call on Sheikh Jamal to hand himself in and stormed a number of houses searching for him. The occupation soldiers destroyed a number of houses and shops and arrested struggler Kamal Abul Wafa from the Fatah Movement in addition to a number of citizens from their new temporary dwellings. Those citizens’ houses were destroyed during the Jenin refugee camp battle.

We in the Islamic Resistance Movement, Hamas, congratulate all our people and ourselves on safety of the Mujahid leader Abul Abed and hold the occupation authorities full responsibility over any attempt on life of Sheikh Jamal. We remind them that the Qassam Brigades painfully retaliated to all Zionist aggressions or attacks on our people’s leaders. Occupation leaders would regret the moment they approached our Mujahid hero. We affirm that this operation or any other would not break the determination and steadfastness of our people who insist on resistance as a strategic option along the road to liberation of the entire Palestinian soil and to restoration of rights.

 “And soon will the unjust assailants know what vicissitudes their affairs will take!”

Wallaho Akbar wa Lillah El-Hamd

The Islamic Resistance Movement – Hamas
Jenin – Palestine
Friday 17/5/2002