Yumna Patel
Mondoweiss / August 9, 2022
Less than 48 hours after a ceasefire between Israel and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad movement in Gaza, Israeli forces have killed three Palestinian resistance fighters in Nablus setting off protests across the West Bank.
Three Palestinian resistance fighters, including one minor, were killed by Israeli forces during a military raid on the Old City of Nablus in the northern occupied West Bank on Tuesday morning.
The three fighters belonged to Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade, the military wing of the Fatah movement. They were identified as the brigade’s commander Ibrahim Nabulsi, 19, and fighters Islam Subuh, 32, and Hussein Jamal Taha, 16.
There were conflicting reports by the media on Nabulsi’s age, though a Ministry of Health representative confirmed to Mondoweiss that he was 19.
The Palestinian Ministry of Health confirmed their deaths, adding that Nabulsi was shot with a bullet to the head, Subuh was shot in his upper chest, and Taha was shot in the heart. The ministry added that at least 40 other Palestinians were wounded during the raid.
Ibrahim Nabulsi
Israeli forces raided the Old City in the early hours of Tuesday morning and surrounded a house where Nabulsi was reportedly staying, sparking a gun battle with the fighters in the area. Israeli forces also used shoulder-launched rockets on the house in an effort to force Nabulsi out.
Nabulsi was wanted by Israeli forces for his activity with the Al-Aqsa brigades, and reportedly evaded numerous arrest and assassination attempts. In February, Israeli forces assassinated three Palestinian members of the brigades while they were riding in their car in Nablus. At the time, it was reported that Nabulsi was one of the targets.
In late July, Israeli forces killed Muhammad Azizi, 25, and Abdul Rahman Subuh, 28, both fighters with the brigades, during a raid on the Old City of Nablus, of which Nabulsi was also reportedly a target. Nabulsi, who was widely revered across Nablus and the West Bank as a brave and unafraid fighter, attended the funeral of his comrades on July 25th, further boosting his heroic reputation in the city.
‘Take care of the homeland’
In a voice message shared widely on Palestinian social media on Tuesday, purportedly recorded by Nabulsi shortly before he was killed, Nabulsi can be heard saying:
“I love you so much. If I am martyred, guys, I love my mother. Take care of the homeland after I’m gone, and my final will to you, on your honor: don’t let go of the rifle — on your honor. I’m surrounded, and I am going towards my martyrdom.”
The voice message, along with photos and videos of Nabulsi flooded social media on Tuesday, as Palestinians paid their respects to what many regard as a fallen hero.
Videos of Nabulsi’s mother speaking to crowds outside the hospital in Nablus went viral, as she said: “They shot Ibrahim, but there are hundreds of Ibrahims. You are all Ibrahim. You are all my children,” throwing up a victory sign, saying “Ibrahim was victorious.”
Thousands of Palestinians took part in a massive funeral procession for Nabulsi, Subuh, and Taha in Nablus City on Tuesday afternoon.
The entirety of the West Bank shut down, as districts across the occupied territory announced a general strike in mourning of the slain fighters.
Protests were reported in cities across the West Bank following the funeral of the fighters. Palestinian media reported that a 17-year-old boy, identified as Momin Yassin Jaber, was killed during confrontations with Israeli soldiers in the southern West Bank city of Hebron/Al-Khalil.
The assassination of Nabulsi, Subuh, and Taha, comes less than 48 hours after a ceasefire between Israel and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad movement in Gaza. Israel launched a three-day offensive on Gaza on Friday that resulted in the death of 44 Palestinians, including 16 children.
Yumna Patel is the Palestine News Director for Mondoweiss
