Israel kills senior Hamas terrorist behind series of deadly 2000s West Bank attacks

Israeli forces killed Hamas operative Farah Hamed on Wednesday, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF), Israel Security Agency (ISA) and Israel Police reported. Hamed was a key figure behind numerous deadly attacks against Israeli civilians and IDF soldiers in the West Bank throughout the 2000s.

The Israeli agencies said Hamed was a senior member of Hamas' military wing and had previously served in the West Bank Headquarters. He took part in combat against IDF troops during the war. In recent years, Hamed focused on promoting terrorist attacks in Judea and Samaria.

Among Hamed's deadly attacks were a November 2002 shooting near Rimonim Junction that killed Israeli civilian Esther Galia Atiya; a June 2003 shooting on Route 60 that killed Israeli civilian Zvi (Howard) Goldstein; and an August 2003 shooting on Alon Road in Samaria that killed Shalom Har-Melech. He was also involved in the October 2003 shooting attack in Ein Yabrud, which killed IDF soldiers Sgt. Elad Pollak, Sgt. Roi Yaakov Solomon, and Staff-Sgt. Erez Idan.

Hamed was initially released back to Gaza as part of the 2011 Gilad Schalit prisoner exchange. After his release, he continued operating in Hamas' military wing and recruited and directed Hamas operatives to carry out attacks in Judea and Samaria, according to the IDF, ISA and Israel Police.