1. Hamas’ internal security apparatus, which includes the police force and the elite rapid intervention unit, serves as Hamas’ main instrument for suppressing its opponents in the Gaza Strip. Many of its operatives serve as policemen but routinely and in emergency situations also in the Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades, Hamas’ military-terrorist wing. They are integrated into the Brigades’ defensive and offensive missions at the expense of internal security. That was clearly shown during Operation Cast Lead.¹

2. As part of its anti-Israeli campaign following Operation Cast Lead, Hamas and the human rights organization often included the names of operatives of the police force and internal security apparatus on the lists of those killed during the operation as civilians and not fighters, representing Israel as unjustifiedly attacking “innocent” policemen. The claim, which had no basis in fact, was that the internal security system was completely civilian and provided services to civilians, and was not part of the military-operational system, as was the Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades.

3. Additional proof of the dual duties of the Hamas police was recently made available by Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades announcements of the deaths of operatives who were killed during policing missions:

i) Ayman Khaled Ibrahim Abu Sibleh, a policeman killed of August 14, 2009, was also as an operative in the Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades. He was killed in battle against jihadist operatives (among them Jund Ansar Allah) during the incident at the Ibn Taymiyyah mosque in Rafah. During the battle, the Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades brutally suppressed their jihadi opponents.²

Announcement of the death of Ayman Abu Sibleh, a policeman who also belonged
to the Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades (From the Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades website).

Ayman Khaled Ibrahim Abu Sibleh (Photo from the Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades website).		From the Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades announcement of Sibleh’s death (From the Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades website).

ii) In an announcement issued by the Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades, Tariq Farid Abu Jizer died in Khan Yunis on August 27, 2009, during a policing mission. According to the announcement, he died during “an honorable jihad mission” fulfilling his “national commitment” as part of the rapid intervention and public order force of the Palestinian police.

Tariq Farid Abu Jizer (Photo from the Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades website).		From the Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades announcement of the death of Tariq Farid Abu Jizer.