Who is Abu Obeida, Hamas’s military spokesman?
Abu Obeida, spokesman for the Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas, speaking at a military show in the southern Gaza Strip 11 November 2019
Middle East Eye reports on 30 May 2024:
One of Hamas’s most important public figures, Abu Obeida has been the spokesman for the Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades, the Palestinian group’s military wing, for nearly two decades. His profile has increased dramatically since the Hamas-led surprise attack on Israel in October 2023, and the subsequent Israeli war on the Gaza Strip.
Abu Obeida is best known for his speeches, during which he provides battlefield updates, boasting about Hamas’s military achievements, and taunts Israel, which has made several attempts to kill him. For that reason Abu Obeida’s real identity has never been revealed, although alleged photos exist: he is always dressed in military garb, with his face shrouded in traditional headwear.
But he has become a hero for many in the Arabic-speaking world, with his name chanted at pro-Palestine rallies and songs sung in his honour. Abu Obeida’s prominence has made him a target for the Israeli military: his home has reportedly been bombed three times, while Israel has vowed his mask would not save him from “meeting his fate”.
His seniority in Hamas – which is designated as a terrorist group by the US, UK and other countries – has earned him a place on Washington’s sanctions list, along with other leaders of the Palestinian movement.
Who is Abu Obeida and where was he born?
Details about Abu Obeida’s early life are limited. In 2005, he told a reporter his family were forcibly expelled by Zionist militias from historic Palestine in 1948, arriving at a village in the Gaza Strip that he did not name. During the same interview, he implied he was in his early 20s, which indicates he was born in the early to mid-1980s. Hamas has never revealed the name, face and personal details of Abu Obeida.
In 2014, sources at the group said only a few people know his real identity: Abu Obeida is an assumed name he has used since his first appearance during the Second Palestinian Intifada, which lasted from 2000-2005. His name is likely a reference to Abu Ubaidah ibn al-Jarrah, a close companion of the Prophet Muhammad and a famed Muslim commander.
What is Abu Obeida’s role in Hamas?
Abu Obeida’s first known appearance as the spokesman of the al-Qassam Brigades came in 2004. He gave a press conference in October of that year to provide battlefield updates during an Israeli ground offensive into the northern Gaza Strip. He has continued to act as the military spokesman since, giving media interviews and releasing pre-recorded speeches via Hamas’s website and other online platforms.
As such, Abu Obeida is the first and only Hamas figure to assume the role of military spokesman, which is part of the group’s media office, which was formally established in 2004. His media appearances are often linked to military confrontations with Israel: he rarely speaks outside of war.
What has Abu Obeida said?
One of Abu Obeida’s main duties has been announcing military achievements by the group. His first major appearance came in 2006, when he announced the capture of Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit.