Terrorist serving 46 life sentences for organizing suicide bombings recounts his role in attacks on Hamas military wing's website
Posted on the website of the Izz A-Din Al-Qassam Brigades (Hamas’ military wing), accessed March 16, 2018
Headline: “The sacred revenge”
“In this short story, prisoner commander of the [Izz A-Din] Al-Qassam [Brigades] (i.e., Hamas’ military wing) Hassan Salameh (i.e., terrorist, planned murder of 46 in 3 suicide bombings) will tell the story of the Brigades in a series of ‘sacred revenge’ operations (i.e., terror attacks), which were carried out after Al-Qassam Brigades General Commander Muhammad Deif ‘Abu Khaled’ (i.e., terrorist, responsible for numerous lethal attacks) gave an order to respond to the assassination of commander Yahya Ayyash (i.e., Hamas terrorist bomb-maker)…
Salameh speaks:
In these lines I will speak about the greatest things that happened during my life as a Jihad fighter, and I speak here so that we will perpetuate the memory of these great operations that shocked the [Zionist] entity, and whose echoes are still heard even though all these years have passed…
Majdi Abu Wardeh and Ibrahim Al-Sarahneh were Martyrdom-seeker pioneers (i.e., suicide bombers sent by Salameh) of the Al-Qassam Brigades in the ‘sacred revenge’ operations, and they carried out a combined operation [on Feb. 25, 1996]. The two of them dressed as journalists… and Martyrdom-seeker Majdi Abu Wardeh’s mission was to get on the number 18 bus [in Jerusalem] carrying a journalist’s bag on his back containing a 13 kilogram TNT explosive, which was ready in his hands – it was assembled and prepared in front of him and he was trained to use it.
In addition, Martyrdom-seeker Al-Sarahneh’s target was a large gathering of [Israeli] soldiers at their position next to Ashkelon Prison, and he carried a soldier’s bag that contained a 13 kilogram explosive, which he knew everything about and was trained to use…
The two of them entered Paradise, Allah willing, 10 minutes apart. I was in Ramallah; I was listening to the news and followed what happened until the enemy’s radio broadcast started at 6:30 a.m. Five minutes later news of the first explosion was reported, and afterwards of the second explosion. That was the first response that came 50 days after the death as a Martyr (Shahid) of ‘the engineer’ (i.e., Ayyash). I immediately called Gaza, spoke with brother Salam Al-Mahmoum (i.e., a member of Salameh’s terror cell), and conveyed to him an encrypted message that ‘Half of the land has already been successfully sown, and the other half will be done soon,’ which meant that the first half of the operation had been successfully carried out and the second half would be completed soon…
Despite all of the closure and arrests by the occupation and [Palestinian] Authority [Security] Forces, we continued anew with our work to complete the revenge. Brothers Akram [Al-Qawasmi] and Ayman [Al-Razem] (i.e., members of the Al-Quds terror cell involved in planning suicide bombing with Salameh’s cell) succeeded in overcoming the siege imposed on Jerusalem, and we remained in Ramallah and spoke in one of the restaurants about what happened and the next mission. They were given the responsibility to determine a new target, and we agreed that the new target would be the same [Jerusalem] bus, number 18, in order to defy the Zionist security forces and ridicule them, and with the thought that they would not expect us to return to the same target.
That was Akram and Ayman’s suggestion and we agreed to it. We also agreed to meet in order to pick up the third Martyrdom-seeker, who was unknown until that moment. Immediately I called brother Muhammad Abu Wardeh, and we met him, spoke with him, and blessed him over the death as a Martyr of his relative Majdi. I asked him to be careful and not to leave the [Ramallah] Institute, and also asked him for a third Martyrdom-seeker. He told me about Martyr Raed Al-Shaghnoubi (i.e., suicide bomber sent by Salameh), his friend from the institute whom he trusts and knows well, and who always speaks about Martyrdom-death.
Muhammad did indeed bring me Martyr Raed, and he was exactly as he told me. I spoke with him, prepared him, and lived with him for a few days at home. The day before his death as a Martyr, he was in the middle of a fast of a few days, and on Saturday I prepared a meal to break the fast and woke him up so that he would eat and prepare himself for the prayer at dusk. Suddenly he broke into intense crying, and I was shocked and concerned that perhaps he would change his mind in the final moments. Afterwards I asked him what happened, and then I understood that I was standing before an extraordinary man. In his dream it was revealed to him that Heaven opened for him and light flooded out and he began to ascend to Heaven, to Paradise. He woke up crying with joy over the good tidings that he had received, and hoped that his target would be greater…
The two of us went out together and arranged to meet the Al-Quds squad in order for him to be with them, and so that afterwards they would take him in the morning to his target. Ayman and Akram were with him in his last moments, and in the morning [of March 3, 1996] Martyrdom-seeker Raed Al-Shaghnoubi set out for his target…
Memories of the Martyrdom-seekers:
Majdi Abu Wardeh was a young person less than 18 years old from Hebron, from the Al-Fawwar refugee camp. He had an innocent smile and loved Jihad and the Al-Qassam Brigades. He would sit in his refugee camp alone hoping to meet one of them in order to ask them for an activity. This was his life, and this was his dream. I thought that I would need many days and meetings in order to recruit him, but I sat with him and he showed morale, complete readiness, and a love of activity. His eyes sparkled with a special gleam, as if he had finally found what he was hoping for.
Ibrahim Al-Sarahneh, the heroic Martyr from Hebron, was from the Al-Fawwar refugee camp and was 24 years old. Like his comrade Majdi, he hoped to be part of the Al-Qassam Brigades and could not believe that he was sitting with one of the Al-Qassam Brigades’ Jihad fighters; his eyes showed the extent of his love and readiness for action. I was lucky with these two Jihad fighters, as they were very dedicated, and therefore Allah honored them with this great achievement.
Raed Al-Shaghnoubi from Nablus taught children Quran and studied at the Ramallah Institute. I met him after the initial operations were carried out and Majdi and Ibrahim had died as Martyrs. Brother Muhammad Abu Wardeh brought him to me, and he was an educated young person with great awareness and interest, very devoted, and a shy person seeking Martyrdom-death. I still remember his words: ‘I want to participate in a great operation,’ and Allah fulfilled his desire.
These Martyrs spent their last moments, or some of the most beautiful days of their lives, with me. They were with me at home in Ramallah, and I supervised them until I understood the truth of their feelings and their sincerity. They spent these days in fasting and closeness to Allah, and the weapons in my possession did not leave them. They embraced them and slept with them and could not wait to carry out the operation. Not one of them knew that he would carry out a Martyrdom-seeking operation, but even so they were ready for anything. They wrote their wills and gave me the rest of their possessions so that I would pass them to the family, and I hope that they did indeed arrive.”
Hassan Salameh – Hamas terrorist who is serving 46 life sentences for heading the terror infrastructure that carried out 2 suicide bombings on no. 18 buses in Jerusalem (first attack on Feb. 25, 1996, second attack on March 3, 1996), and the suicide bombing at the Ashkelon Junction hitchhike point (Feb. 25, 1996). 46 people were murdered in the attacks and around 100 were wounded.
Muhammad Deif – Chief Commander of the Izz A-Din Al-Qassam Brigades (Hamas' military wing). He organized several terror attacks, including the first Jaffa Street suicide bombing in Jerusalem (27 murdered, 35 wounded, Feb. 25, 1996), the second Jaffa Street suicide bombing in Jerusalem (18 murdered, over 40 wounded, March 3, 1996), the Ashkelon Junction suicide bombing (1 murdered, 35 wounded, March 3, 1996), the Elei Sinai shooting attack (2 murdered, 15 wounded, Oct. 2, 2001 and the Atzmona shooting attack (5 murdered, 15 wounded, March 7, 2002). He also led the cell that kidnapped and murdered 3 Israeli soldiers: Shahar Simani (April 20, 1994), Aryeh Frankental (July 7, 1994) and Nachshon Wachsman (Oct. 9, 1994).
Yahya Ayyash - The first Hamas bomb-maker and leader of Hamas’ Izz A-Din Al-Qassam Brigades in the West Bank, he is considered the initiator of Palestinian suicide bombings and nicknamed “the engineer.” He built the bombs used in many terror attacks, including the Mehola Junction bombing (2 murdered, 9 injured, April 16, 1993), the Afula bus bombing (8 murdered, 55 injured, April 6, 1994), the Hadera central station bombing (6 murdered, 30 injured, April 13, 1994), the Tel Aviv bus 5 bombing (22 murdered, 47 injured, Oct. 19, 1994), the Ramat Gan bus bombing (6 murdered, 33 wounded, July 24, 1995), the Ramat Eshkol bus bombing (5 murdered, over 100 injured, Aug. 21, 1995), and the Bet Lid bombing (22 murdered, 66 injured, Jan. 22, 1995). He was killed by Israeli security forces on Jan. 5, 1996.
Headline: “The sacred revenge”
“In this short story, prisoner commander of the [Izz A-Din] Al-Qassam [Brigades] (i.e., Hamas’ military wing) Hassan Salameh (i.e., terrorist, planned murder of 46 in 3 suicide bombings) will tell the story of the Brigades in a series of ‘sacred revenge’ operations (i.e., terror attacks), which were carried out after Al-Qassam Brigades General Commander Muhammad Deif ‘Abu Khaled’ (i.e., terrorist, responsible for numerous lethal attacks) gave an order to respond to the assassination of commander Yahya Ayyash (i.e., Hamas terrorist bomb-maker)…
Salameh speaks:
In these lines I will speak about the greatest things that happened during my life as a Jihad fighter, and I speak here so that we will perpetuate the memory of these great operations that shocked the [Zionist] entity, and whose echoes are still heard even though all these years have passed…
Majdi Abu Wardeh and Ibrahim Al-Sarahneh were Martyrdom-seeker pioneers (i.e., suicide bombers sent by Salameh) of the Al-Qassam Brigades in the ‘sacred revenge’ operations, and they carried out a combined operation [on Feb. 25, 1996]. The two of them dressed as journalists… and Martyrdom-seeker Majdi Abu Wardeh’s mission was to get on the number 18 bus [in Jerusalem] carrying a journalist’s bag on his back containing a 13 kilogram TNT explosive, which was ready in his hands – it was assembled and prepared in front of him and he was trained to use it.
In addition, Martyrdom-seeker Al-Sarahneh’s target was a large gathering of [Israeli] soldiers at their position next to Ashkelon Prison, and he carried a soldier’s bag that contained a 13 kilogram explosive, which he knew everything about and was trained to use…
The two of them entered Paradise, Allah willing, 10 minutes apart. I was in Ramallah; I was listening to the news and followed what happened until the enemy’s radio broadcast started at 6:30 a.m. Five minutes later news of the first explosion was reported, and afterwards of the second explosion. That was the first response that came 50 days after the death as a Martyr (Shahid) of ‘the engineer’ (i.e., Ayyash). I immediately called Gaza, spoke with brother Salam Al-Mahmoum (i.e., a member of Salameh’s terror cell), and conveyed to him an encrypted message that ‘Half of the land has already been successfully sown, and the other half will be done soon,’ which meant that the first half of the operation had been successfully carried out and the second half would be completed soon…
Despite all of the closure and arrests by the occupation and [Palestinian] Authority [Security] Forces, we continued anew with our work to complete the revenge. Brothers Akram [Al-Qawasmi] and Ayman [Al-Razem] (i.e., members of the Al-Quds terror cell involved in planning suicide bombing with Salameh’s cell) succeeded in overcoming the siege imposed on Jerusalem, and we remained in Ramallah and spoke in one of the restaurants about what happened and the next mission. They were given the responsibility to determine a new target, and we agreed that the new target would be the same [Jerusalem] bus, number 18, in order to defy the Zionist security forces and ridicule them, and with the thought that they would not expect us to return to the same target.
That was Akram and Ayman’s suggestion and we agreed to it. We also agreed to meet in order to pick up the third Martyrdom-seeker, who was unknown until that moment. Immediately I called brother Muhammad Abu Wardeh, and we met him, spoke with him, and blessed him over the death as a Martyr of his relative Majdi. I asked him to be careful and not to leave the [Ramallah] Institute, and also asked him for a third Martyrdom-seeker. He told me about Martyr Raed Al-Shaghnoubi (i.e., suicide bomber sent by Salameh), his friend from the institute whom he trusts and knows well, and who always speaks about Martyrdom-death.
Muhammad did indeed bring me Martyr Raed, and he was exactly as he told me. I spoke with him, prepared him, and lived with him for a few days at home. The day before his death as a Martyr, he was in the middle of a fast of a few days, and on Saturday I prepared a meal to break the fast and woke him up so that he would eat and prepare himself for the prayer at dusk. Suddenly he broke into intense crying, and I was shocked and concerned that perhaps he would change his mind in the final moments. Afterwards I asked him what happened, and then I understood that I was standing before an extraordinary man. In his dream it was revealed to him that Heaven opened for him and light flooded out and he began to ascend to Heaven, to Paradise. He woke up crying with joy over the good tidings that he had received, and hoped that his target would be greater…
The two of us went out together and arranged to meet the Al-Quds squad in order for him to be with them, and so that afterwards they would take him in the morning to his target. Ayman and Akram were with him in his last moments, and in the morning [of March 3, 1996] Martyrdom-seeker Raed Al-Shaghnoubi set out for his target…
Memories of the Martyrdom-seekers:
Majdi Abu Wardeh was a young person less than 18 years old from Hebron, from the Al-Fawwar refugee camp. He had an innocent smile and loved Jihad and the Al-Qassam Brigades. He would sit in his refugee camp alone hoping to meet one of them in order to ask them for an activity. This was his life, and this was his dream. I thought that I would need many days and meetings in order to recruit him, but I sat with him and he showed morale, complete readiness, and a love of activity. His eyes sparkled with a special gleam, as if he had finally found what he was hoping for.
Ibrahim Al-Sarahneh, the heroic Martyr from Hebron, was from the Al-Fawwar refugee camp and was 24 years old. Like his comrade Majdi, he hoped to be part of the Al-Qassam Brigades and could not believe that he was sitting with one of the Al-Qassam Brigades’ Jihad fighters; his eyes showed the extent of his love and readiness for action. I was lucky with these two Jihad fighters, as they were very dedicated, and therefore Allah honored them with this great achievement.
Raed Al-Shaghnoubi from Nablus taught children Quran and studied at the Ramallah Institute. I met him after the initial operations were carried out and Majdi and Ibrahim had died as Martyrs. Brother Muhammad Abu Wardeh brought him to me, and he was an educated young person with great awareness and interest, very devoted, and a shy person seeking Martyrdom-death. I still remember his words: ‘I want to participate in a great operation,’ and Allah fulfilled his desire.
These Martyrs spent their last moments, or some of the most beautiful days of their lives, with me. They were with me at home in Ramallah, and I supervised them until I understood the truth of their feelings and their sincerity. They spent these days in fasting and closeness to Allah, and the weapons in my possession did not leave them. They embraced them and slept with them and could not wait to carry out the operation. Not one of them knew that he would carry out a Martyrdom-seeking operation, but even so they were ready for anything. They wrote their wills and gave me the rest of their possessions so that I would pass them to the family, and I hope that they did indeed arrive.”
Hassan Salameh – Hamas terrorist who is serving 46 life sentences for heading the terror infrastructure that carried out 2 suicide bombings on no. 18 buses in Jerusalem (first attack on Feb. 25, 1996, second attack on March 3, 1996), and the suicide bombing at the Ashkelon Junction hitchhike point (Feb. 25, 1996). 46 people were murdered in the attacks and around 100 were wounded.
Muhammad Deif – Chief Commander of the Izz A-Din Al-Qassam Brigades (Hamas' military wing). He organized several terror attacks, including the first Jaffa Street suicide bombing in Jerusalem (27 murdered, 35 wounded, Feb. 25, 1996), the second Jaffa Street suicide bombing in Jerusalem (18 murdered, over 40 wounded, March 3, 1996), the Ashkelon Junction suicide bombing (1 murdered, 35 wounded, March 3, 1996), the Elei Sinai shooting attack (2 murdered, 15 wounded, Oct. 2, 2001 and the Atzmona shooting attack (5 murdered, 15 wounded, March 7, 2002). He also led the cell that kidnapped and murdered 3 Israeli soldiers: Shahar Simani (April 20, 1994), Aryeh Frankental (July 7, 1994) and Nachshon Wachsman (Oct. 9, 1994).
Yahya Ayyash - The first Hamas bomb-maker and leader of Hamas’ Izz A-Din Al-Qassam Brigades in the West Bank, he is considered the initiator of Palestinian suicide bombings and nicknamed “the engineer.” He built the bombs used in many terror attacks, including the Mehola Junction bombing (2 murdered, 9 injured, April 16, 1993), the Afula bus bombing (8 murdered, 55 injured, April 6, 1994), the Hadera central station bombing (6 murdered, 30 injured, April 13, 1994), the Tel Aviv bus 5 bombing (22 murdered, 47 injured, Oct. 19, 1994), the Ramat Gan bus bombing (6 murdered, 33 wounded, July 24, 1995), the Ramat Eshkol bus bombing (5 murdered, over 100 injured, Aug. 21, 1995), and the Bet Lid bombing (22 murdered, 66 injured, Jan. 22, 1995). He was killed by Israeli security forces on Jan. 5, 1996.