ALBAWABA - On Friday, thousands of Palestinians flocked to the central Gazan refugee camp of Al-Bureij to attend the burial of Marwan Issa, the deputy leader of Hamas' military arm, the Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades.
With a sizable contingent of Qassam militants and Palestinian people singing in support of the resistance, the celebration fused military and public accolades.
Following Friday prayers, the burial was held in the Al-Bureij Services Club. In the midst of public sadness, Hamas personnel accompanied the casket.
Hamas has held many funerals for its commanders who were slain in the conflict after the ceasefire agreement went into force, including Rouhi Mushtaha, Sami Ouda, and Ghazi Abu Tamaa, a senior commander in Qassam.
When the Israeli Air Force attacked what it said was an underground Hamas base close to the Al-Nuseirat refugee camp in March 2024, Issa's murder was a part of a targeted Israeli military action. U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan verified Issa's death a week later.
Issa has survived many attempts on his life, including the 2014 and 2021 Israeli bombs on his house. Israeli intelligence named him, along with Mohammed Deif and Yahya Sinwar, who were also killed in Israeli attacks, as one of the main masterminds of the October 7, 2023 assault.
On January 30, 2025, Abu Ubaida, the military spokesman for Hamas, acknowledged the deaths of these high-ranking officials, stressing that the news was postponed for security reasons.
As a vital conduit between Hamas' political and military leadership, Issa was chosen to the organization's political bureau in 2021. He was essential in talks for prisoner exchanges, military strategy, and weaponry development.
He has long been considered a high-value target by Israeli authorities, who saw his presence as fueling the ongoing intelligence conflict between Israel and Hamas.
