Saleh al-Arouri

Saleh al-Arouri (Arabic: صالح العاروري), also transliterated as Salah al-Arouri, is a prominent leader of Hamas and founding commander of Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, the Hamas military. He is regarded as, "the military commander of the West Bank." And as being, "a capable, charismatic, suspicious, and shrewd operator, with excellent connections."

Al-Arouri founded the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades. The government of the United States accuses al-Arouri of having been, "a high-ranking Hamas military leader dating back to his role as a Hamas student cell leader at Hebron University in the early 1990s."

He also served as a recruiter, and was actively involved in raising and transferring funds on behalf of Hamas.

Al-Arouri was born on 19 August 1966 in Aroura. In 1985, he enrolled in Hebron University to study Sharia law. He was elected head of the Islamic faction at the university, where he established ties to Kutla Islamiya (Islamic Blocs), Hamas’ youth wing on campus. Through his connection to Kutla Islamiya, al-Arouri met Muin Shahib, a Bir University-based Hamas operative who recruited al-Arouri to the ranks of Hamas and entrusted him with funding of an infrastructure for Hamas’ military apparatus in Hebron.

In November 1990, al-Arouri was arrested by Israeli authorities. He spent only six months in jail, but was arrested again shortly after. Initially held on administrative detention, he spent in jail 15 years for his leadership role in Hamas.

In 2007, al-Arouri was arrested again by the Israeli authorities and released in March 2010, probably for his decisive role in the release of Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit who was captured by Hamas in 2006. Al-Arouri was later expelled from Gaza as his presence was reputed to pose a threat to Israel.

When he was released from prison in Israel in 2007, he told interviewers that he abjured terrorist attacks, asserting that Hamas is "harmed if we target civilians." He was deported by Israel shortly after his release from prison and moved to Damascus, where he joined Hamas’ political bureau headed by Khaled Meshaal. When Khaled Meshal left Damascus at the inception of the Syrian Civil War, al-Arouri relocated to Istanbul, where he established his own bureau.

al- Arouri is believed to be living in Turkey, although in December 2015, rumors circulated that he had voluntarily left the country and was "shuttling between Lebanon and Qatar." Qatar has hosted Khaled Meshaal, Hamas’ political leader, as well as Hamas’ political bureau, for years. Ynet News reported that Al-Arouri’s departure was part of the reconciliation efforts between Turkey and Israel, and was discussed during the meeting held in early December between Turkish President Tayyip Erdoğan, Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu, and Hamas’ political leader Khaled Meshal.

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Wikipedia