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Abu Obaida is a famous moniker for Arab Mujahideen who seek to conceal their real identities or they do it to relive the glorious military track of their role models of highly successful early Islamic military generals, such as Abu Obaida ibn Jarrah (583-639). The military spokesperson of Hamas & allied groups (al-Qassam), Abu Obaida, is known for his televised speeches addressed to Arabs and Israel. During the Hamas-Palestine conflict, he was widely covered by the media as he wore a badge of The Military Advisor; (Al Natiq al Askari) of Hamas & Al-Qassam units.
With his real identity not yet disclosed or feared, he came to limelight for his sermons cum speeches against the Zionists where he called for negotiations amid conflict with Israel rather than calling for its elimination. He also launched an opprobrium against the Arab leaders, the West, scholars & diplomats and the global community (probably UN and aid agencies) for not doing enough or to find a sustainable resolution of the Israel-Palestinian conflict especially Gaza that has become a horrific graveyard & a tragedy.
Unlike Hamas leadership that made public appearances without military masks such as Ismail Haniyeh, Yahya Sinwar and Khaled Meshal. Abu Obaida covered his face with a Keffiyeh as he took on Israel & IDF. Some IDF insiders believe that Abu Obaida is the former deputy military commander of the now relinquished Islamic State in Syria who was a deputy to the widely publicized Georgian IS commander Abu Omer al Shishani when IS mounted vehement attacks against the Kurdish groups and allies (SDF) in Rojava and Hasaka, while seeking a border with Turkiye as it merged the border with Iraq’s Anbar. Abu Obaida and Abu Omer were not seen afterwards and were believed to be killed. Most likely, Abu Obaida of Hamas is not the Abu Obeida of the IS. If Abu Obaida of Hamas is the same as the Abu Obeida of the IS then Abu Obaida is not only a spokesperson albeit a field commander of Hamas and al-Qassam who must be the priority target of IDF, US and allies.
As per some Arab media reports (alquds & israel national news) Yahya Sinwar may have succumbed along with Abu Obaida. If Abu Obaida does not have an eloquent body double and doesn’t make a televised appearance again. Abu Obaida should be presumed to be a gone story for IS and Hamas. It’s not a matter of convenience for the IDF and Zionists due to the presence of at least 5000 active combatants on its borders. As per hearsay among Hamas sympathizers; Abu Obaida, Yahya Sinwar, Ismail Haniyeh, Hezbollah’s Hasan Nasrallah and a few top IRGC officials were targeted. Hamas operatives who are most likely assassinated in covert operations, renounced due to aggression or killed in ongoing indiscriminate bombing against the Gazans. Anyways, Abu Obaida of Islam is an iconic figure for those who study Islamic history, and continue to inspire ‘wannabe Mujahideen’ such as Abu Obeida of IS and Abu Obaida of Hamas. If the Hamas spokesperson post lies vacant to be necessarily filled, then, they have many options, especially an old Hamas functionary Shurabil who is said to speak Arabic, English & Turkish.
Given the unpopularity of Hamas’s Jihadi tactics among many Muslim orgs and sects especially those who are for Democracy, Palestinian nationalism and against a pan-Islamic order. Israel may get a better deal if it can get democratic statehood for the Palestinians, relinquish Jerusalem, especially the Al Aqsa compound, halt the Jewish settlers’ expansion and denounce SDF (who are unpopular among Iraqi & Syrian Arabs due to their heavy handedness). This is a position favored by the majority of Muslim countries who seek a two-state solution in the region and in the Gulf who hate Hamas, Alqaeda & IS. Even Hamas’ allies in current State regimes of HTS and Taliban can digest a two-state solution mutually acceptable to Palestinians, even temporarily, if Israel sharpens its statecraft & not prepare for a revisionist eschatological War that can lead to global meltdown. If not for peace, then it’s only a matter of time when Mujahideen regroup and reorganize in an anarchic wilderness in a highly polarized and an unstable world.
These pieces are being published as they have been received – they have not been edited/fact-checked by ThePrint.