| Abu Ubaida | |
|---|---|
| Native name | أبو عبيدة |
| Birth name | Hudayfa Samir Abdallah al-Kahlout (alleged by the United States) |
| Born | (1985-02-11) February 11, 1985 (age 39) Gaza City, Israeli-occupied Gaza Strip |
| Allegiance |  Hamas |
| Service | Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades |
| Years of service | 2002–present |
| Rank | Spokesperson |
| Battles / wars | Second Intifada 2014 Gaza War Israel–Hamas war |
Abu Ubaida (Arabic: أبو عبيدة, romanized: Abū ʿUbayda; born February 11, 1985; also spelled Abu Obaida, Abu Ubayda and Abu Ubaydah), whose alleged real name is Hudayfa Samir Abdallah al-Kahlout (Arabic: حذيفة سمير عبدالله الكحلوت), is a Palestinian militant who has been the spokesperson for the Ezzedeen al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas, since at least 2007.
Biography
According to Israeli media and the U.S. government, Abu Ubaida is Hudayfa Samir Abdallah al-Kahlout, born February 11, 1985, in Gaza. Abu Ubaida first emerged in 2002, representing the Qassam Brigades to the media and at press conferences. After the Israeli disengagement from Gaza in 2005, he was officially appointed the spokesman for Al-Qassam.
According to the United States, Abu Ubaida has been the spokesman of the Qassam Brigades since at least 2007. He only appears wearing a keffiyeh covering his face.
In 2014, Israeli media outlets released a photo, allegedly of Abu Ubaida. However, the validity of the photo and name were denied by the al-Qassam Brigades.
In April 2024, United States Department of Treasury issued sanctions against Abu Ubaida and confirmed his identity as al-Kahlout.
Statements
In June 2020, in response to plans by Israeli leaders to officially annex parts of the West Bank, Abu Ubaida said that "the forces of the resistance will faithfully protect the Palestinian people," and vowed to "make the enemy bite its fingers in regret for such a sinful decision." He described the Israeli plans as a "declaration of war."
During the 2021 escalation in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, Abu Ubaida said that striking Tel Aviv, Dimona, Ashdod, Ashkelon and Beersheba were "easier for us than drinking water," proclaiming that "there are no red lines when responding to the aggression." After a ceasefire agreement was reached, he said, "With the help of God, we were able to humiliate the enemy, its fragile entity and its savage army."
In September 2021, after four out of the six Gilboa prison escapees were rearrested by Israeli forces, Abu Ubaida announced that no future prisoner exchange with Israel would take place without freeing the escapees, saying that “if the heroes of the Freedom Tunnel have liberated themselves this time from underground, we promise them and our free prisoners that they will be liberated soon, God willing, from above ground.”
In May 2022, in response to Israeli calls to assassinate Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar following several Palestinian attacks on Israelis, Abu Ubaida said that if "the enemy and its failing leadership" hurt Sinwar, it would unleash a "regional earthquake and an unprecedented response."
In June 2022, Abu Ubaida announced that the medical condition of one of the Israeli captives in Gaza has deteriorated. The al-Qassam Brigades later released a video showing that the captive in question was Hisham al-Sayed.
In October 2023, during the early stages of the Israel–Hamas war, Abu Ubaida said (according to NBC News) that Hamas would kill one civilian hostage every time Israel targeted civilians in their homes in Gaza without warning: “We announce that every targeting of our people who are safe in their homes without warning, we will regretfully meet with the execution of our enemy’s civilian hostages."
References
- ^ Press, Zamn (25 July 2014). "القسام: صورة أبو عبيدة المتداولة غير حقيقية". zamnpress.com (in Arabic). Retrieved 2022-07-02.
- ^ "US sanctions target Hamas spokesperson, drone program leaders". Reuters. 2024-04-12. Retrieved 9 May 2024.
- ^ "Counter Terrorism Designations; Balkans-related Designation Removal; Cyber-related Designation Update | Office of Foreign Assets Control". ofac.treasury.gov. Retrieved 2024-05-30.
- Zboun, Kifah (2023-11-02). "Abu Ubaida...Al-Mulatham: Symbol of the Gaza Battle". Al-Sharq al-Awsat. Retrieved 12 December 2023.
- "Hamas Says West Bank Annexation Is 'A Declaration of War,' Israel 'Will Regret It'". Haaretz. Retrieved 2022-07-03.
- Episkopos, Mark (2021-05-13). "Is Israel's Iron Dome Enough to Protect It From Hamas?". The National Interest. Retrieved 2022-07-02.
- "aa.com".
- Al-Mughrabi, Nidal; Williams, Dan (2021-05-19). "Israel and Hamas agree Gaza truce, Biden pledges assistance". Reuters. Retrieved 2022-07-04.
- "With rockets and rhetoric, Hamas seeks to leverage Palestinian prisoner escape". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2022-07-03.
- "Egyptian Officials Mediating to Prevent Gaza Rocket Fire at Israel, Report Says". Haaretz. Retrieved 2022-07-03.
- "Isreali prisoner's health is deteriorating: Al-Qassam".
- "Hamas video claims to show captive Israeli". BBC News. 2022-06-28. Retrieved 2022-07-03.
- "Hamas threatens to kill a civilian hostage every time Israel hits Gaza civilians 'without warning'". NBC News. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2023-10-11.
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