From the Liveblog of
Thursday, July 6, 2023
In rare statement, Hamas claims responsibility for string of recent deadly attacks
Emanuel (Mannie) Fabian is The Times of Israel's military correspondent
The spokesman for the military wing of Hamas says the terror group is directly responsible for a recent string of terror attacks in Israel and the West Bank.
In a statement, Abu Obaida says the terror shooting near the West Bank settlement of Eli on June 20, which left four Israelis dead, was carried out by the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades in response to a deadly Israeli military raid in the city of Jenin two days prior.
Initially, Hamas only confirmed the two gunmen were affiliated with the terror group, without claiming responsibility.
Abu Obaida says a car-ramming terror attack in Tel Aviv on Tuesday, which left seven Israelis wounded, was also carried out by the group.
Earlier today, the al-Qassam Brigades also claimed responsibility for a shooting attack near the West Bank settlement of Kedumim, which left one Israeli dead.
“When the al-Qassam Brigades said that Jenin was not alone, it was well aware of what it was saying,” Abu Obaida says. He says the attacks “reaffirm the readiness of al-Qassam… to respond to aggression on any part of our land and holy sites.”
Hamas’s military wing has rarely issued statements taking responsibility for attacks in recent years. It last claimed a deadly shooting attack outside the West Bank city of Ariel in April 2022.
The Times of Israel Community.