Jenin, dubbed the Palestinian “terror capital” by observers, has been in the news for the past few months as Israel continues to carry out counter-terrorism operations in a bid to save Israeli lives and prevent the actions of those who seek to harm the Jewish state.
But while Jenin is constantly being mentioned in the media, how much do we really know about Jenin?
In this series, we will take a look at different Jenin-related topics and hopefully provide a multi-faceted understanding of the city at the center of the current rise in violence and terrorism.
This is ‘Spotlight on Jenin.’
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As the Palestinian terror capital, Jenin has been the home of numerous terrorists who have targeted Israeli civilians and soldiers. In this piece, we will take a look at the 10 most notorious terrorists who emerged from the Jenin region in the 21st century (in chronological order):
1. Shadi Tubasi
Age: 18
Terrorist Group Affiliation: Hamas
Known For: Carrying out the suicide bombing of the Matza restaurant in Haifa on March 31, 2002. 16 people were killed and over 40 were wounded.
Last of the terror of "Bloody March" 2002
31 March
Suicide bombing in the "Matza" restaurant in Haifa, murdering 16. Dozens injured.
Suicide bombing in Efrat (thankfully without fatalities) pic.twitter.com/STbKQ4wXwa
— Maurice Hirsch, Adv. 🇮🇱 עו''ד מוריס הירש (@MauriceHirsch4) April 1, 2022
2. Mahmoud Tawalbe
Age: 22
Terrorist Group Affiliation: Palestinian Islamic Jihad
Known For: Leader of Islamic Jihad’s armed forces in Jenin. Responsible for a number of attacks on Israeli civilians, Tawalbe was killed during the Battle of Jenin in 2002.
Two of the three Palestinians killed tonight near Jenin in a counter-terrorism operation were members of Palestinian Islamic Jihad in the West Bank, likely Katibat Jenin (Jenin Branch of PIJ.) Two of the members with posters of Mahmoud Tawalbe, a famous West Bank PIJ figure. pic.twitter.com/BPwGziavvd
— Joe Truzman (@JoeTruzman) April 2, 2022
3. Hamza Samoudi
Age: 18
Terrorist Group Affiliation: Palestinian Islamic Jihad
Known For: Carrying out the suicide bombing of Bus 830 (from Tel Aviv to Tiberias) as it approached the Megiddo Junction in northern Israel. Samoudi drove his explosive-laden car next to the bus and blew it up. 17 people were killed and 43 others were injured.
Related Reading: Jenin: The Palestinian Terror Capital & Its Threat to the Region
4. Ashraf al-Asama and Mohammed al-Hasnin
Ages: 18 & 19
Terrorist Group Affiliation: Palestinian Islamic Jihad
Known For: Carrying out the suicide bombing of Bus 841 (Kiryat Shmona to Tel Aviv) at the Karkur Junction outside Hadera on October 21, 2002. As the bus was stopped to pick up passengers, the terrorists detonated their explosive-laden jeep outside the bus, killing 14 and wounding 50.
5. Hanadi Jaradat
Age: 29
Terrorist Group Affiliation: Palestinian Islamic Jihad
Known For: Carrying out the suicide bombing of the Maxim restaurant in Haifa on October 4, 2003. 21 people, including four children and four Arab employees, were killed and 60 people were wounded.
Today marks 18 years since the Maxim restaurant suicide bombing in Haifa, which had conjoined Jewish-Arab ownership.
21 people, including 3 children & a baby, were murdered by a Palestinian terrorist who blew herself up. 60 others were injured.May their memories be blessed.🕯️ pic.twitter.com/vzKRMRsl9o
— StandWithUs (@StandWithUs) October 4, 2021
6. Sami Hammad
Age: 21
Terrorist Group Affiliation: Palestinian Islamic Jihad
Known For: Carrying out the suicide bombing of the Rosh Ha’ir shwarma restaurant in Tel Aviv on April 17, 2006. The attack ultimately killed 11 people — including an American teenager — and wounded more than 70 others.
Related Reading: The Second Intifada: Israeli Society Terrorized
7. Zakaria Zubeidi
Age: 46 (born in 1976)
Terrorist Group Affiliation: Al Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigades
Known For: As the leader of the Fatah-linked Al Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigades, Zubedi was responsible for a number of terror attacks against Israeli civilians during the Second Intifada.
Zubeidi was granted general amnesty by Israel in 2007, but it was later revoked and he was arrested in 2019 for his part in a number of recent terror shootings.
Zubeidi was one of the Palestinian terrorists who escaped Gilboa prison in September 2021. He was re-captured by Israeli security forces five days after his escape.
Related Video: Media’s ‘Moderate’ Palestinian Authority President Celebrates Escape of Terrorists From Israeli Prison
8. Dhia Hamarsha
Age: 27
Terrorist Group Affiliation: Al Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigades
Known For: Carrying out a shooting terror attack in the Tel Aviv suburb of Bnei Brak on March 29, 2022. Four Israeli civilians and one Israeli police officer were killed.
9. Ra’ad Hazem
Age: 28
Terrorist Group Affiliation: Fatah
Known For: Carrying out a shooting terror attack at a bar on the busy Dizengoff Street in Tel Aviv on April 7, 2022. Three people were killed and 15 people were wounded in the attack. After a night-long manhunt, Hazem died in a shootout with Israeli security forces at a Jaffa mosque.
Just horrific. Scenes of people running for their lives, during terrorist shooting attack on #Dizengoff Street, #TelAviv tonight.pic.twitter.com/9vTPbSYDXv
— Arsen Ostrovsky (@Ostrov_A) April 7, 2022
Related Reading: HonestReporting Quick Guide: The Top 5 Terror Groups Threatening Israel’s Existence
10. Bassam al-Saadi
Age: 61 (born in 1961)
Terrorist Group Affiliation: Palestinian Islamic Jihad
Known For: He is the head of Palestinian Islamic Jihad in the West Bank and is responsible for a number of terror attacks against Israeli civilians. His August 2021 arrest by Israel sparked the three-day conflict between Israel and Palestinian Islamic Jihad in Gaza.
For Part Five: A Brief Look at Jenin’s Modern History, click here
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