How Hamas and Islamic Jihad Use Journalism as a Cover for Terrorism

When Operation Pillar of Defense began on Nov. 14, Palestinian terrorists in the Gaza Strip knew that the IDF was trying to target them. That might explain why on Nov. 19, four senior Palestinian Islamic Jihad operatives took over an office on the second floor of a civilian media building in Gaza — where major international news networks were located — and used it as a meeting place.

The terrorists thought that hiding in a civilian building and using international journalists as human shields would ensure their safety. Once IDF Intelligence learned of their location, the IDF surgically targeted their hiding place. A direct hit was confirmed.

Archive: Islamic Jihad terrorists preparing to fire rockets into Israel

These are the four Islamic Jihad terrorists who were targeted:

Baha Abu al-Ata: Commander of Palestinian Islamic Jihad’s Gaza City Brigade; involved in planning attacks against Israel, arms manufacturing and long-range rocket launching capabilities

Tissir Mahmoud Mahmed Jabari: Senior Islamic Jihad operative; responsible for training within the organization and approving terrorist attacks against Israel

Halil Batini: Senior Islamic Jihad operative; a key figure in planning the group’s long-range rocket launching operations; responsible for internal security

Ramez Harab: Responsible for propaganda in Islamic Jihad’s Gaza City Brigade; an aide to Tissir Jabari; the former head of the Sheikh Rajuan Division

Islamic Jihad admitted that their operatives were hiding in the media building and confirmed that at least one of them was killed.

As the AP tweeted at the time:

BREAKING: Gaza group Islamic Jihad says Israeli strike on media center killed one of its top militant leaders.

— The Associated Press (@AP) November 19, 2012