Islamic Jihad gunmen
Photo: Reuters
Islamic Jihad vows to avenge leader's death
Terror group vows attacks against Israeli targets to avenge death of leader who died of serious wounds sustained in Israeli assassination attempt
The al-Quds Brigades, the military wing of Islamic Jihad, vowed to avenge the death of its leader, Hussam Jaradat, who died on Wednesday of critical wounds sustained by Israeli troops in an attempt on his life last week.
A Jordanian hospital announced Jardat's death on Wednesday morning.
"The blood of commander Jaradat will become a curse that will haunt the leaders of the Zionist enemy … the upcoming response will surprise all, God willing," read a statement issued by the brigades.
Jaradat, 42, was shot in the Jenin refugee camp by special Israeli forces. In light of his critical injuries, Israel agreed to allow his transfer from Jenin to Nablus, and from there to Jordan.
Jaradat was responsible for planning most terror attacks carried out by Islamic Jihad during the last Palestinian uprising. He had served a jail sentence in an Israel jail.
The group said his death will not affect its capability to plan and carry out terror attacks. "The motivation of the Moujahidin to avenge the Zionist enemy by carrying out martyrdom attack will only rise in light of the continuation of aggressions against the Palestinian people," a senior group member said.
Sheikh Nafez Azzam, an Islamic Jihad leader reiterated similar claims: "As Israeli policy, killing and aggression against Palestinians in Sajaiya continue the Palestinian resistance will respond to these crimes. No one has the right to condemn the resistance for a legitimate response."
