Jihad Shehadeh
| |
|---|---|
| Native name |
جهاد مهراج إبراهيم عبد الوهاب شحادة
|
| Birth name | Jihad Maharaj Ibrahim Abdul Wahab Shehadeh |
| Born | (1999-02-18)18 February 1999 Tulkarm Camp, West Bank |
| Died | 6 November 2023(2023-11-06) (aged 24) Tulkarm, West Bank |
| Cause of death | Shot |
| Allegiance |  Palestine |
| Service/ | al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade |
| Rank | Major General |
Jihad Maharaj Ibrahim Abdul Wahab Shehadeh (Arabic: جهاد مهراج إبراهيم عبد الوهاب شحادة; 18 February 1999 – 6 November 2023) was a Palestinian military commander[1] and co-founder of the Tulkarm Battalion.[2][3][4][5] He was one of Israel's most wanted, as he was accused of directing and carrying out a series of shootings at IDF forces at Israeli military checkpoints.[6]
Shehadeh was born to a family from the Tulkarm refugee camp, attending various schools in his youth.
He co-founded the Tulkarm Battalion - Rapid Response military branch with Amir Abu Khadija, and Shehadeh later took total command of it.[5] Israeli intelligence forces requested Shehadeh to surrender himself several times throughout his career, to which he declined. He was placed at the district headquarters for al-Qassam for three months in hiding, and then subsequently left to return to military activity.[7] He became one of Israel's most wanted and the Shin Bet accused him of carrying out many shootings at Israeli military checkpoints.[6]
Shehadeh had been arrested multiple times by Israel previously, and spent several months in prison,[8] along with his father Brigadier general "Maharaj Shehadeh", who had been arrested by Israel in 2001 and released in 2016 due to his activity in the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades.[7]
Shehadeh was assassinated by Israeli forces in a special operation in Tulkarm on 6 November 2023 by firing 100 bullets at his moving vehicle, which he was using along with fellow Tulkarm combattant Izz al-Din Raed Award and others of the al-Qassam Brigades. Their bodies were transferred to Martyr Dr. Thabet Thabet Governmental Hospital. They died of their injuries, according to an announcement by the Palestinian Ministry of Health.[9][10][11]
