The Israeli Government Press Office has released a list compiled by the IDF of senior wanted terrorists seeking refuge in Bethlehem's Church of the Nativity. According to the statement, "the number of terrorists who took over the church is estimated to be around 250, a few of them injured."
Ibrahim Musa Salem Abayat "Abu Galif": born 1973, resident of Bethlehem, is a prominent Tanzim operative who heads a military cell. He is the successor of Hasin and Atef Abayat (deceased), involved in the firing of mortars at the Jerusalem neighborhood of Gilo. He was responsible for the following terrorist attacks:
- June 2001: the murder of IDF officer Yehuda Edri.
- September 2001: the murder of Sarit Amrani.
- January 2002: the murder of Avi Boaz.
Abdallah Daud Mahmud A'a-Kader/Tirawi, born 1962, heads the Palestinian general intelligence service in Bethlehem. Originally from the Balata refugee camp in Nablus, he is a very close disciple of Tawfik Tirawi. A'a-Kader has been involved in the organization and execution of multiple terrorist attacks, the production of explosives, the smuggling of weaponry and sheltering operatives of other terrorist organizations. A'a-Kader fully collaborates with senior Tanzim operatives. He is responsible for the shooting attacks against Gilo and the Bethlehem bypass roads.
Jihad Yusouf Khalil Ja'ara, born in 1971 and a resident of Bethlehem. Ja'ara is a Tanzim operative and member of the Palestinian security forces. He has been continuously involved in terrorist attacks targeted at IDF forces and Israeli civilians. Regularly firing at IDF forces and targets in Gilo, Ja'ara is also a dealer of weaponry to Tanzim operatives in the Bethlehem area, as well as responsible for sheltering wanted suspects.
Ismail Musa Muhammad Hamdan, born in 1968 and a resident of Bethlehem. Hamdan is a Tanzim operative and a member of Ibrahim Abu Gali'f's cell. Hamdan was involved in dozens of shooting attacks against Gilo. He perpetrated some of the most heinous terrorist attacks, including:
- June 2001: the murder of IDF officer Yehuda Edri.
- September 2001: the murder of Sarit Amrani.
- January 2002: the murder of Avi Boaz.
Nidal Ahmad Isa Abu Gali'f, born 1973, a resident of Bethlehem. He perpetrated shooting attacks against Gilo and the Bethlehem bypass roads and was involved in the production of explosives. Abu Gali'f is currently the senior assistant of Yihia Da'amsa, who is responsible for many terrorist attacks, such as the suicide attacks in the Jerusalem neighborhood of Beit Israel and the supermarket in Kiryat Yovel.
Muhammad Sai'd Attallah Salem, born 1979 and a resident of the Dehaishe refugee camp. Salem is senior Tanzim operative under the command of Yihya Da'amsa. Salem was involved in planning and dispatching suicide attacks in the neighborhood of Beit Israel on March 2, 2000 and the supermarket in Kiryat Yovel in Jerusalem, on March 29, 2002.
Kamel Hassan Hamid, born 1963 and the Fatah General Secretary in Bethlehem. Hamid is responsible for the financing of the Tanzim operations in Bethlehem, including the purchase of weaponry and explosives. Hamid is in direct contact with Marwan Barghouti and responsible for disbursing funds to the terrorist operatives.
Ibrahim Muhammad Salem Abyat, born 1961 and a resident of Bethlehem. Abyat is a senior Hamas operative; is in charge of organizing terrorist Hamas activity.
Basem Muhammed Ibrahim Hamud, born in 1972 and a resident of Bethlehem. Hamud is a Hamas terrorist operative. He was involved in the preparation of explosives and dispatched Taleb Harmes and Ahmad Abada, who were intercepted en route to committing a suicide attack in Jerusalem's Binyanei Ha'uma Convention Center.
Aziz Khalil Muhammad Abyat Jubran, born 1971, and a resident of Bethlehem. Gubran is a Hamas operative. He works with Basem Hamud; produces explosive charges and was also dispatched Harmas and Abda in the aforementioned foiled Jerusalem suicide attack.
Israeli forces will continue their siege of the Church of the Nativity until Palestinian gunmen inside surrender, President Moshe Katsav has informed Pope John Paul II. |