Hamas Political Bureau Member Osama Hamdan: Jerusalem Gunman Was Hamas Member, Wanted To Be A Role Model For Jihad, Seeking Martyrdom

Hamas Political Bureau member Osama Hamdan said in a November 22, 2021 interview on Al-Manar TV (Hizbullah-Lebanon) that Sheikh Fadi Abu Shkhaydam, the gunman who recently killed one Israeli and injured three in a terror attack in Jerusalem, was a member of Hamas. Hamdan said that Sheikh Shkhaydam, who was also a teacher, wanted to be a role model for his students, not only in Islamic scholarship or education, but also in jihad and in seeking martyrdom. Hamdan said that this is an important message that should be conveyed, and he emphasized that Hamas' goal is for "the enemy" to never feel like Jerusalem belongs to them.

Osama Hamdan: "The martyr [Jerusalem gunman Fadi Abu Shkhaydam] was a member of [Hamas]. We did not formally announce that he was a member [of Hamas]. Rather, he asked beforehand that his organizational affiliation be announced, and that it be announced that the attack was carried our by a Hamas member, because he wanted to convey a clear message.

"It is well-known that he was a sheikh and a teacher. Just like he was an esteemed teacher for his students, he wanted to be a role model for them not only as a scholar, but also in terms of resistance, jihad, and martyrdom seeking. This is the most important message: Students, this is your teacher who taught you what is good, this is your sheikh who delivered many Friday sermons for you, and led you in prayer many times – he is also an imam in Jihad and resistance.

"This is an important message that should be conveyed. Let me state this clearly. Our commitment is that the enemy will never be allowed to be in Jerusalem, will never enjoy stability in it, and Allah willing, will never feel that Jerusalem belongs to him, or that he has any rights in it."