Dr. Abd al-Rahman al-Jamal, a 63-year-old member of the Gaza Legislative Council, is deeply embedded in the Hamas apparatus. Born and raised in the Nusirat refugee camp, he studied Islamic law at the Islamic College in Gaza and eventually earned a doctorate before serving as the dean of the Faculty of Religious Studies. In 2006, he transitioned into politics and was elected to the Legislative Council on behalf of Hamas. While not officially part of Hamas's military wing, he has been linked to coordinating terrorist actions against the Egyptian army in Sinai.
The extended al-Jamal family remains prominent in Nusirat and is closely aligned with the Hamas government. Significantly wealthy, they own multiple houses in the refugee camp. One of these houses was used by Hamas to detain three Israeli abductees—Almog Meir Jan, Andrey Kozlov, and Shlomi Ziv—who were held for several months. A daring rescue operation by the IDF and Shin Bet freed the abductees, although it resulted in the death of IDF Major General Arnon Zamora and some al-Jamal family members.
Hamas's method of using civilian homes as detention centers is part of a broader strategy of embedding within civilian populations as a human shield. In the same area, Noa Argamani was also held captive and later rescued in similar conditions. Various released abductees have described being held in family apartments, often shuffled between locations, and disguised in traditional Arab clothing to evade detection.
The tactics employed by Hamas complicate Israeli intelligence efforts. Former Shin Bet personnel and academic experts explain that Hamas leverages longstanding family ties and trust networks within Gaza to securely hide abductees. This system disrupts traditional intelligence methods due to the population's deep integration and identification with Hamas.
The UN's Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights has expressed deep concern over the impact on civilians from both the Israeli operations and the ongoing hostage situation by Palestinian terrorist groups. The office highlighted the potential for these actions to amount to war crimes, emphasizing the legal principles of distinction, proportionality, and precaution as outlined in the laws of war.
The UN also criticized Hamas for holding hostages in densely populated areas, thereby endangering both the hostages' lives and those of the civilian population. As of recent reports, the conflict has resulted in significant casualties on both sides, exacerbating the humanitarian crisis in the region.
- The book 'Hamas Lexicon', written by Guy Aviad, provides an in-depth look into the journey of Dr. Abd al-Rahman al-Jamal within Hamas. His initial role as a student of Islamic law evolved into significant political influence, reflecting the intertwining of academic and militant domains in Gaza.
- The IDF's rescue operations demonstrate both the physical risks involved and the complex layers of intelligence and ground operations necessary to free hostages deeply embedded within civilian populations. These operations are often the culmination of weeks of intelligence gathering and strategic planning by military forces.
- Testimonies from freed abductees underline the harsh conditions of captivity. They recount limited movement, minimal contact with the outside world, and constant surveillance by armed guards. Such conditions are designed to break the spirit of the captives while keeping them hidden from Israeli intelligence.
- The UN's commentary on the humanitarian violations underscores the severe impact of the conflict on civilian lives. The significant number of Palestinian casualties, as well as the ongoing captivity of Israeli citizens, highlights the broader consequences of the conflict and the need for international oversight and intervention.
