The Al Qassam Brigades, the military wing of the Hamas movement, announced the martyrdom of their spokesperson Abu Ubaida during the latest aggression on the Gaza Strip.
Although Abu Ubaida’s real name and full identity remained concealed for nearly two decades, his voice alone was sufficient, every time he appeared, to provoke official and public anxiety within the Israeli occupation. This made him a top target on Israel’s assassination list for many years.
Abu Ubaida, the spokesperson of the Al Qassam Brigades, was regarded as one of the most enigmatic and influential Palestinian figures in both the media and military arenas. His name became synonymous with the voice of the resistance and its field messages, as well as with major turning points in the course of confrontation with the Israeli occupation.
With his red keffiyeh, green headband, and sharp tone, his recorded appearances turned into moments anticipated by millions inside and outside Palestine. These appearances usually carried decisive messages related to the course of the war, prisoner files, escalation, or de-escalation.
Over two years of Israel’s genocidal war on the Gaza Strip, the name “Abu Ubaida” became one of the most circulated names on social media platforms. This prominence was not limited to Palestine and the Arab and Islamic worlds, but extended into the Israeli occupation itself, where his appearances were associated with an unprecedented state of security and media anticipation.
Announcements of any upcoming address by him were never mere media events. They were often linked to leaks or expectations of decisive developments, whether related to military operations, prisoner exchange deals, or the fate of Israeli soldiers held by the resistance.
Upbringing and Education
Abu Ubaida was born in 1984 in the Jabalia refugee camp in northern Gaza. He grew up in a conservative Palestinian family inside the camp and was a father to several children. He received his primary education in schools run by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees. He later enrolled at the Islamic University of Gaza, where he obtained a master’s degree in Quranic exegesis.
He became involved at an early stage with the Hamas movement and its military wing following the outbreak of the Second Palestinian Intifada in 2000. He progressed through field and media work within the Al Qassam Brigades.
First Media Appearance
Abu Ubaida first emerged in the media in October 2004 during the “Days of Rage” battle, which lasted 17 days. At that time, he held the first press conference of the Al Qassam Brigades, announcing details of the confrontations against the Israeli invasion of northern Gaza.
From that point onward, he became the most prominent media face of the Al Qassam Brigades. His name became closely associated with military announcements and statements related to qualitative operations and resistance to Israeli incursions.
Media Role Within Al Qassam
After the Israeli withdrawal from the Gaza Strip in 2005, Abu Ubaida officially assumed the position of media spokesperson for the Al Qassam Brigades. He later became head of the Military Media Department.
From this position, he supervised several divisions, including documentation and filming, psychological operations, management of media platforms, and the issuance of written and visual statements.
Despite his widespread presence, he was known for his limited media appearances and strict adherence to security measures. He lived under conditions of extreme secrecy to avoid Israeli targeting.
At the Forefront of Wars
Abu Ubaida’s appearances were closely linked to successive wars on the Gaza Strip. His presence often preceded or followed the announcement of major field achievements by the Al Qassam Brigades.
Among his most notable media milestones were:
In 2006, the announcement of the capture of Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit.
In 2014, the announcement of the capture of Israeli soldier Shaul Aron during the battle of the Shuja’iyya neighbourhood east of Gaza City.
His appearances in later rounds of fighting, during which he showcased locally manufactured weapons and remnants of destroyed Israeli military vehicles.
Final Appearance and Threat Messages
Abu Ubaida’s last recorded appearance was on 18 July, in which he affirmed that resistance factions were ready to wage a “long war of attrition” against the Israeli occupation.
His final post on the Telegram platform warned the occupation that it would pay the price for any plan to occupy Gaza City “with the blood of its soldiers.” He stressed that Israeli captives would be located in combat zones and would live under the same conditions as resistance fighters.
In 2024, the United States Department of the Treasury imposed sanctions on Abu Ubaida in his capacity as spokesperson for the Al Qassam Brigades, describing his activity as part of what it labelled “support for terrorism.” Palestinians described the move as a “political persecution” added to Israeli assassination attempts.
Israeli Narratives on His Assassination
As the genocidal war on Gaza continued, the Israeli occupation escalated its claims regarding the assassination of Abu Ubaida.
Israeli war minister Israel Katz said in a post on the X platform on 31 August that “the spokesperson of Hamas terrorism Abu Ubaida has been eliminated in Gaza,” according to his wording.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also claimed that the army and the internal security service carried out a joint operation targeting Abu Ubaida.
Channel 12 reported that the occupation had “indications” of his killing without final confirmation. Channel 14 claimed that his assassination had been “definitively confirmed” during an air strike near a bakery in the Rimal neighbourhood of Gaza City. Israel’s public broadcaster Kan stated that the Israeli army attempted to assassinate him in an air strike on Gaza.
A Symbol Beyond the Individual
Over nearly two decades, Abu Ubaida evolved into a media symbol of the Palestinian resistance and the “voice of Al Qassam” in the battle of narrative against the Israeli occupation. His name became associated with threats, promises of retaliation, and pivotal moments in the course of the conflict.
With American support, the Israeli occupation has continued since 7 October 2023 to carry out genocide in the Gaza Strip. This has resulted in more than 71,000 Palestinian martyrs and approximately 171,000 wounded, alongside massive destruction affecting most civilian infrastructure, in complete disregard of international appeals and orders issued by the International Court of Justice.
