VITAL STATISTICS
Ahmed Said Khalil al-Jabari
Age: 46
Born: Shujaiya, Gaza City
Education: History at Gaza's Islamic University
Hamas describes Jabari as a 'symbol of the resistance'. Israeli authorities say he is responsible for terrorist activities against Israel.
Jabari's destroyed car after an Israeli air strike in Gaza City.
Arrested by Israeli security forces in 1982 after a series of deadly attacks, Jabari spend 13 years in prison where he met some of Hamas's co-founders.
The Izz al-Din Qassam Brigades was set up after their release to achieve the organisation's political goals through military means.
Arrested again in 1998, in 2002 the then-commander of the Qassam Brigades was killed in the second Palestinian intifada. Jabari then became the operational head.
The Hamas Leadership: Khaled Mashaal (L) posing with Al Kassam Brigades leader Ahmed Jabari (2-R) and two released prisoners in Egypt in 2011.
"I am a fighter for God. You will find me anywhere, anyplace, fighting the enemies of Islam. I will be honoured to represent Mohammed Deif on the battlefield," he stated in a television interview.
Under his watchful eye, the Qassam Brigades launched rocket attacks into Israel and Jabari took control of the abducted Israeli solder Gilad Shalat.
Jabari (L) personally escorted Shalat to the Egypt border on his release.
In 2006 Hamas won a majority in parliamentary elections in the Gaza Strip, and formed a unity government in 2007.
Jabari's profile was raised too, and there were several attmepts to assasinate him, although he was notoriously secretive and never carried a mobile phone.
HOW WAS HE KILLED?
The Israel Defence Force YouTube channel posted a video that claims to show his death by airstrike.
“On Nov. 14, 2012, the IDF targeted Ahmed Jabri, the head of Hamas' military wing, in the Gaza Strip. Jabari was a senior Hamas operative who served in the upper echelon of the Hamas command and was directly responsible for executing terror attacks against Israel in the past.”
