Rafa Salama | |
|---|---|
| Native name | رافع سلامة |
| Died | (2024-07-13)13 July 2024 |
| Cause of death | Assassination by airstrike |
| Allegiance |  Hamas |
| Years of service | 1990s–2024 |
| Commands | Head of Khan Yunis Brigade ofAl-Qassam Brigades |
| Battles / wars | |
Rafa Salama (Arabic:رافع سلامة; died 13 July 2024) was aPalestinian militant and the head of theKhan Yunis branch of theAl-Qassam Brigades, the military wing ofHamas. He was killed by the Israeli military in anairstrike on al-Mawasi refugee camp on 13 July 2024, during theGaza war.[1][2]
Salama initially worked at a school in Khan Yunis before joining Hamas in the early 1990s and being appointed as commander of the Khan Yunis brigade under the command ofMohammed Sinwar. Israel has accused Salama of orchestrating the2006 Gaza cross-border raid and capture ofGilad Shalit, as well as the7 October attack on Israel.[1][2]
Israel bombed Salama's family home inAl-Mawasi on 13 July 2024, killing both Salama and head of the Al-Qassam Brigades,Mohammed Deif. The massive airstrike on the camp for displaced people also killed at least 90 Palestinians and injured over 300.[3] According to the Saudi channelAl-Hadath, Rafa Salama was killed in the strike while Deif was seriously wounded.[4] Hamas dismissed the IDF's claims that it had targeted its leaders, labeling them as "false allegations" that aimed to "cover up the scale of the horrific massacre".[5] Hours after the strikes, sources confirmed Salama's death, who was buried by relatives and Hamas members.[6] Hamas spokesmanAbu Obaida confirmed his death on 30 January 2025.[7] Both of his sons were also killed in the war.
Part of theGaza–Israel conflict, theIsraeli–Palestinian conflict, and theMiddle Eastern crisis (2023–present) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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