Watan–Marwan Issa was the deputy commander-in-chief of the Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas, and a member of both its political and military bureaus. Born in 1965, his efforts in developing the brigades posed a significant threat to Israel, which placed him on its most-wanted list.
Detentions and Early Involvement in Hamas
Issa was arrested by Israeli occupation forces during the First Intifada and spent five years (1987–1993) in prison due to his organizational activities within Hamas, which he had joined at a young age. On January 30, 2025, the Qassam Brigades announced his martyrdom alongside its chief of staff, Mohammed Deif, and several other senior leaders during the “Al-Aqsa Flood” war.
Israel sought to assassinate him for years, believing that as long as he remained alive, what it called the “war of minds” between Hamas and Israel would persist. Israeli intelligence described him as a “man of actions, not words,” and claimed he was so intelligent that he could “turn plastic into metal.”
Birth and Early Life
Marwan Abdul Karim Issa, also known as Abu Al-Baraa, was born in 1965 in Al-Bureij refugee camp in central Gaza. He grew up carrying the dream of returning to his family’s village of Beit Tima near Al-Majdal, from which they were displaced during the Nakba in 1948.
In his youth, Issa joined the Muslim Brotherhood, actively participating in its religious, social, and organizational activities. He stood out among his peers due to his strong physical build and was an exceptional basketball player, earning the nickname “Palestinian Commando.” He played for the Al-Bureij Services Club but did not pursue a professional sports career.
His trajectory changed in 1987 when he was arrested by Israeli forces for joining Hamas. Later, in 1997, he was imprisoned by the Palestinian Authority and was only released after the outbreak of the Second Intifada in 2000.
After his release, he abandoned sports and fully committed himself to the resistance. He joined the Qassam Brigades, Hamas’s military wing, at the age of 19, recruited by Ibrahim Al-Maqadmeh, who recognized his sharpness and intelligence during religious study sessions at the main mosque in Al-Bureij camp.
Military Experience
Issa’s experience in Israeli prisons shaped his military mindset, leading him to join the Qassam Brigades immediately after his release. Over time, he climbed the ranks and became one of the key figures behind decision-making regarding operations and battles, either independently or in consultation with Yahya Sinwar, then the leader of Hamas in Gaza.
He was part of the team that carried out a series of martyrdom operations in 1996 in retaliation for the assassination of Yahya Ayyash. Alongside Mohammed Deif, Hassan Salameh, and other prominent figures, he was arrested and spent four years in prison before being released following the outbreak of the Second Intifada in 2000.
After his release, Issa played a central role in transforming the Qassam Brigades from semi-military cells into a structured military force with brigades, units, and divisions following a clear hierarchy.
He remained unknown to the public until September 2005, when his name was officially listed among the top leaders of the Qassam Brigades in a statement released 10 days before Israel’s withdrawal from Gaza.
Role in Military Operations
During Israel’s withdrawal from Gaza, the Qassam Brigades published a special bulletin titled Dawn of Victory, which included interviews with senior commanders. In it, Marwan Issa was introduced as the “Operations Officer of the Settlements,” discussing the tactics used in attacks inspired by Salah Shehadeh, the former general commander of the brigades. Issa stated, “We decided to bring the battle into the settlers’ homes.”
He detailed the complex process of attacking settlements, which required weeks of surveillance and intelligence gathering before plans were reviewed by the central leadership and assessed by a special committee to ensure maximum success with minimal losses.
Israeli reports indicated that during the Second Intifada, Issa worked on two fronts:
- Structuring the Qassam Brigades, organizing its fragmented forces into a military hierarchy.
- Advancing weapons manufacturing after the assassination of engineer Adnan Al-Ghoul in 2004, to develop local military production for land, sea, and air operations.
Due to his growing influence, Israel placed him on its most-wanted list for assassination. In 2006, he narrowly survived an Israeli attempt to eliminate him in a meeting with Mohammed Deif and other senior Qassam leaders. Although he was injured, the assassination attempt failed.
During Israel’s assaults on Gaza in 2014 and 2021, his home was bombed twice, and his brother Wael was killed.
Amid Gaza’s blockade in 2009, his nine-year-old son Bara suffered from kidney failure but was denied travel for treatment. He died as a result, becoming the 359th child martyr due to the Israeli-imposed siege.
Public Appearances and Leadership
Issa’s identity remained largely unknown until 2011 when a group photo surfaced during the reception of prisoners released in the “Shalit Deal” (Wafaa Al-Ahrar). The image included Khaled Meshaal, Saleh Al-Arouri, and Ahmed Al-Jaabari, with Israeli media claiming that Issa was also in the photo.
As “Operations Officer of the Settlements,” his tactics and planning were evident in Gaza’s wars, starting with Operation Pillar of Defense (2012) through to Operation Al-Aqsa Flood (2023), showcasing the Qassam Brigades’ advanced ground, intelligence, and strategic planning capabilities.
During Al-Aqsa Flood, his strategies in directing special forces and commandos were evident. Palestinian fighters breached the border fence and infiltrated settlements up to 40 kilometers deep into Israel.
Issa also played a critical role in developing Hamas’s weapons arsenal, increasing rocket range and destructive power, and shifting the brigades from a defensive to an offensive stance. Under his direction, Hamas acquired drones, established elite forces, dug attack tunnels, and created a naval commando unit that executed several operations on Israel’s coastline, particularly in Ashkelon.
Political Involvement
Despite his military focus, Issa had significant political engagements. In 2015, he participated in a seminar at Al-Ribat University in Gaza, discussing Hamas’s efforts to strengthen its power and secure regional alliances.
In response to an Egyptian court labeling Hamas a “terrorist organization,” he stated that all regional and international attempts to besiege Hamas and its military wing would fail. The Egyptian court later reversed its decision three months after his statement.
In 2017, Issa visited Egypt as part of a Hamas delegation for negotiations on prisoner exchanges, a mission he continued in subsequent years. That same year, he was elected to Hamas’s political bureau, representing its military wing, and was added to the U.S. terrorism watchlist in 2019. He was re-elected to the bureau in 2021 and appeared in its official group photo wearing a face mask.
In June 2021, he appeared in an episode of Al Jazeera’s What is Hidden is Greater, discussing Hamas’s leverage in securing a successful prisoner exchange. He later appeared in two documentaries released by the Qassam Brigades in 2022, commemorating the first anniversary of Operation Sword of Jerusalem.
In March 2023, Issa warned that “a regional earthquake” would erupt if Al-Aqsa Mosque was threatened, predicting major upcoming events. His prediction materialized with Operation Al-Aqsa Flood on October 7, 2023.
Positions and Responsibilities
- Member of Hamas’s political bureau (2017, re-elected 2021).
- One of the masterminds behind the Wafaa Al-Ahrar prisoner swap (2011).
- Key figure in developing the Qassam Brigades’ military capabilities.
- Helped rebuild the brigades with Salah Shehadeh in 2000.
- Second-in-command of the brigades, serving as Mohammed Deif’s deputy since 2012.
- A liaison between Hamas’s military and political leadership.
- Key negotiator in prisoner exchange deals with Israel.
- Operations officer for settlement attacks within the Qassam Brigades.
Assassination
On January 30, 2025, Al-Qassam spokesman Abu Ubaida announced the martyrdom of Marwan Issa. In a recorded statement, he confirmed the deaths of Issa, Qassam chief of staff Mohammed Deif, and several top leaders, including:
- Ghazi Abu Tama’a (Head of Weapons and Combat Services).
- Raed Thabet (Head of Manpower).
- Rafiq Salama (Commander of Khan Younis Brigade).
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