Palestinian Daily Mourns Marwan Issa, Deputy Of Hamas Military Chief Muhammad Deif: We Have Lost A 'Distinguished Athlete'

On January 30, 2025 Abu Obeida, the spokesman of Hamas' military wing, the Izz Al-Din Al-Qassam Brigades, confirmed that several senior Hamas commanders had been killed by Israel, including the head of the military wing, Muhammad Deif,  and his deputy Marwan Issa, aka Abu Al-Baraa.[1]

The Palestinian daily Al-Quds, based in East Jerusalem, which takes a hawkish line vis-à-vis Israel and often eulogizes slain officials of the terror organizations,[2] posted an article in its sports section on February 9 that described Issa, who used to be a professional basketball player, as a distinguished "athlete" who started his sports career in UNRWA schools and went on to devote his whole life to promoting sports – while completely ignoring Issa's role as a senior commander in Hamas' military wing.[3]

It should be noted that the Palestinian press routinely presents terrorists, including senior commanders, as innocent civilians and even as innocent children slain for no reason.[4]

At the same time, the article did hint at Issa's terrorist activities by using words that have military connotations, and by presenting a photo of him taken from a poster of him issued by Hamas' military wing.

Poster issued by Hamas' military wing eulogizing its "great martyred commander" Marwan Issa[5]

The following are translated excerpts from the article in Al-Quds: [6]

Al-Quds On "The Victorious Sports Career" Of "The Martyr Marwan Issa"

The article begins with praise for Issa the athlete, completely disregarding his role as a Hamas commander: "It is sad to speak of the martyred athlete and [Gaza] Strip champion Marwan Issa [in the past tense], considering what this distinguished athlete did [for Palestine] during his finest days as a [basketball] player who bore every mark of a great champion[7]… and also in his capacity as a manager and supervisor on the sports fields and in championships, and as a great supporter of [sports] clubs and teams… and in sacrificing his father, mother and brother, who were martyred."

Expanding on his basketball career, the article adds: "The late Marwan Abd Al-Karim Ali Issa Abu Al-Baraa was born in the Al-Bureij refugee camp in 1965… He started his sports career [as a player in] UNRWA school teams… At a young age he joined the teams of mosques in the central [Gaza Strip], and participated in championships… and in organizing them, promoting them and encouraging young athletes to take part in them… the martyr joined the [UNRWA] club in Al-Bureij in 1983 and was one of its key basketball players."

As stated, the report ignores Issa's terror activities, but stresses that he "was distinguished by his strong character, honest ways, [rapid] progress [as an athlete], discipline on the court and [good relations with] his coaches and teammates. He stood out for his leadership, both on the court[8] and off it… and won the [Gaza] Strip Cup after beating [UNRWA's] Al-Maghazi team from the Jabalya [refugee camp] in 1995… Our martyr [also] undertook many management roles in the [sports] clubs."

Even in referring to Issa's death the article ignores his military role, saying: "Issa ascended to Heaven on March 11, 2024 in a violent bombardment on the Al-Nuseirat refugee camp near [Al-Bureij]. His spirit rose up to its Maker, but the mark left by this generous athlete attests to his long and victorious career."

The article in Al-Quds. The picture of Issa is taken from the poster of him issued by Hamas