IDF Confirms Deputy Military Wing Commander Hamas Marwan Issa Killed: Shadow Man, Capable Of Avoiding Israeli Radar

JAKARTA - Israeli spokesman Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed the death of Marwan Issa, a senior Hamas military figure nicknamed the 'Shaman', in this month's military offensive.

"We have examined all intelligence information," Rear Admiral Daniel televised in a televised statement.

"Marwan Issa was killed in the attack we carried out about two weeks ago," he said.

There has been no immediate comment from Hamas regarding the claim of the death of one of their senior military leaders.

Issa is at the top of Israel's list of most wanted people along with military wing commander Hamas, Al-Qassam Brigade Izzuddin Mohammed Def, as well as Hamas leader in Gaza Yahya Sinwar, who is believed to have masterminded an attack on southern Israel last October 7.

Marwan Issa is the Deputy Commander of the Al-Qassam Izzuddin Brigade, quoted from Al Jazeera. He occupied the position in 2012, following the assassination of his predecessor Ahmed Jabari. This made it a target for Israeli arrests, although it was recognized difficult and earned the nickname 'Shareman' because of his ability to evade Israeli radar.

Issa is considered to have played an important role in a long series of terror attacks, starting from Intifada First October attack last year.

Former Israeli military intelligence chief Amos Yadlin said Issa was a "connector between the military wing and the political wing of Hamas" and was considered one of five people familiar with all aspects of the October 7 attack, quoted by The Times Israel.

"Issa was listened to by Hamas officials in Gaza, the West Bank and Qatar," former Shin Bet official Ilan Lotan told Channel 12, highlighting how integral his position was in the militant group's daily operations.

Joining the Qassam Brigade since its inception, Issa was jailed several times. In 1987, he was arrested by Israel and languished in prison for five years for his activities with Hamas during the First Intifada.

After his release in 1993, he was arrested in 1997 by the Palestinian Authority and spent four years in prison, before being released in 2000 in early Second Intifada.

Previously, Issa escaped several attempts at murder by Israel. First in 2006, when Israel targeted the location of the meeting he attended with Defif. Issa was reportedly injured in the attack.

After a failed assassination attempt in 2006, Issa was targeted by at least two other assassination attempts, once during the 2014 Gaza war and once during Operation Wall Guard in 2021.

Last October, Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid said six key figures of the Palestinian militant group Hamas had to be killed while calling for the release of hostages detained in Gaza. In fact, Lapid stressed, Israel must be able to get them all, both in Gaza and abroad.

"Israeli countries must not stop and must not escape until we kill six people: Yahya Sinwar, Mohammed Def, Ismail Haniyeh, Saleh al-Arouri, Khaled Mashaal and Marwan Issa," said Lapid while mentioning the names of the Hamas officials he meant.

"The six must die. Until they die, Israel will not retaliate for the killings of Be'eri and Sderot, Kfar Aza and Ofakim. Until they die, the Middle East will not understand that we are not playing games," he stressed.