Terrorist Released in Prisoner Swap Killed During Counterterror Operation

Latest Developments

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) eliminated a Hamas terrorist on August 26 who was released in a hostage-for-prisoner deal last November. The IDF said it struck an operations center in the northern West Bank camp of Nur Shams, killing Jibril Jibril and four other terrorists. The Palestinian Health Ministry reported that the strike killed five Palestinians. However, Hamas later issued a statement on its official Telegram channel identifying Jibril and Muhannad Qaraawi as members, while three other fighters killed in the strike belonged to unidentified terrorist groups.

Expert Analysis

“The drone strike targeting terrorists in Nur Shams is evidence of the growing threat that various terrorist groups pose in the West Bank. Hamas and other Iranian-backed groups are seeking to exploit the ongoing war in Gaza to put down tentacles in the West Bank and build up terrorist infrastructure. The increasing use of drone strikes to target these groups illustrates how they are growing in number and that new weapons and capabilities are required to neutralize the threat.” — Seth J. Frantzman, FDD Adjunct Fellow

“The elimination of Jibril underscores claims that Palestinian terrorists released from prison often resume activities against Israel. There’s no better example of this than Hamas’s leader Yahya Sinwar himself, who was released from incarceration in Israel as part of a deal to free captured IDF soldier Gilad Shalit in 2011. This clearly poses a significant challenge for Israel, which must carefully weigh its options as it contemplates which senior terrorist it might have to release in a ceasefire deal with Hamas.” — Joe Truzman, Senior Research Analyst at FDD’s Long War Journal

Three Terrorists Released in November Deal Killed in IDF Operations

The death of Jibril raised the number of eliminated Hamas fighters released in the November deal to three. The IDF eliminated Hamas field commander Tariq Daoud on August 12 following a shooting attack in Qalqilya that wounded an Israeli and two Palestinian civilians. Daoud was subsequently pursued by Israeli troops and eliminated by Col. Netanel Shanka, commander of the Ephraim Brigade, as he attempted to flee the scene, the IDF said.

A drone strike near Nablus on August 14 eliminated Hamas member Wael Mashah. The strike was carried out when the IDF identified Mashah and another Palestinian as an armed threat.

Related Analysis

“Analysis: Israel is targeting orchestrators of West Bank terrorism,” by Joe Truzman

“Hamas Terrorist Released Through Ceasefire Deal Strikes Again in West Bank,” FDD Flash Brief

“Mapping Terrorism in the West Bank,” by Joe Truzman