Yesterday, Palestinian Islamic Jihad published the names of an additional 86 commanders killed during the Gaza war. Due to the list's size, this thread will analyze one half, which includes 3 journalists, 3 nurses, and 2 lawyers, among others. Details below: 🧵
Many of those listed were previously known to be PIJ commanders or to hold dual roles, but others were not previously identifiable from open-source information. I believe most of these initial journalist IDs were first made by @MiddleEastBuka (apologies to anyone who was first). Links for specific persons and the full set of announcements available -- just DM.
Mohammed Mohammed Nasser Kamel Abu Huweidi (ID#: 803434364, age 29), listed as a journalist for the privately owned al-Istiqlal news outlet, was a commander in PIJ’s Central Military Media Unit. Abu Huweidi was killed in a December 2023 airstrike.
Mohammed Nabil Ibrahim al-Zaq (ID#: 400208245, age 29), listed as a journalist for the PIJ-affiliated al-Quds Today TV, was previously known to be a PIJ fighter. This announcement confirmed him as the Head of PIJ’s Central Bureau in the Northern Region. al-Zaq was killed in a November 2023 airstrike.
Salem Hosni Salem Abu Tayr (ID#: 802466995, age 34), listed as the financial manager of and photojournalist for the PIJ-affiliated al-Quds Today TV, was confirmed to be a commander in PIJ’s Military Media Unit in the Central Brigade. According to family members, Abu Tayr initially trained as a nurse. Abu Tayr was killed in an April 2024 airstrike.
Salem Juma Ishaq Sharab (ID #: 801710096, age 36), a nurse at Nasser Hospital and treasurer of the Palestinian Nursing Association, was a commander in PIJ’s Military Ambulance Unit in the Khan Younis Brigade. Sharab was killed in a March 2024 airstrike near the Emirates Hospital in Rafah.
Diaa Nafez Abdulhadi Felfel (ID#: 802233486, age 35), who worked both as a nurse and the emergency room supervisor for the Indonesian Hospital in north Gaza, was a commander in PIJ’s Military Ambulance Unit in its Northern Brigade. Felfel was killed in a May 2024 airstrike.
Ahmed Mohammed Hassan Balousha (ID#: 800114175, age 39), a nurse who a colleague said worked in a corneal transplant unit at the Eye Hospital in Gaza City, was a commander in PIJ’s Military Judiciary Unit in the Gaza Brigade. Balousha was killed in a December 2023 airstrike.
Mohammed Jaber Dakhlallah Abu Mustafa (ID#: 800355760, age 38), founder and executive director of the National Youth Center NGO in Khan Younis, was a commander in the Operations Unit of PIJ’s Khan Younis Brigade. Abu Mustafa was killed in a December 2024 airstrike.
Arafat Abullah Mohammed al-Jarjawi (ID#: 801948613, age 35) was the Deputy Commander of the al-Ourubi Battalion in PIJ’s Khan Younis Brigade. His brother Ashraf al-Jarjawi (circled) is reportedly the Gaza director of the Arab World Research and Development Center (AWRAD), which carries out polling in the strip.
Summary of the first half of the list:
30 of the commanders are directly connected to one of PIJ’s five regional brigades in Gaza, while the other 13 appear to be attached to independent or central units. 38 of the 43 commanders can be found on the Hamas-run Gaza Ministry of Health’s death toll list.
Civilian professions can be found for 10, including:
- 3 journalists
- 3 nurses
- 2 lawyers
Analysis of the second half of the list to come in a separate thread.
Share this Scrolly Tale with your friends.
A Scrolly Tale is a new way to read Twitter threads with a more visually immersive experience.
Discover more beautiful Scrolly Tales like this.