The Nukhba forces (Hebrew: נוח'בה, romanized: Nukhba, Arabic: نخبة, lit. 'elite'), Nukhba Force[1] or just (Al-)Nukhba is the special forces unit of the Al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas.[2] The word "Nukhba" is frequently used by Israelis (in Hebrew and English) to refer to Hamas militants.[3] In 2024, the usage of the word in Israel roughly corresponds to "Hamas militant" or "Hamas commando".[4][3]
| Nukhba forces قوات النخبة | |
|---|---|
| Also known as | Al-Nukhba |
| Leaders | |
| Dates of operation | 2010 – present |
| Country |  Palestine |
| Allegiance |  Hamas |
| Headquarters | Gaza Strip |
| Active regions | Palestine Israel |
| Ideology | Palestinian self-determination Palestinian nationalism Anti-Zionism Islamism |
| Part of | Al-Qassam Brigades |
| Opponents | Israel |
| Battles and wars | |
Israel claims the unit led the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, at the beginning of the 2023 Israel–Hamas war.[5]
Training
Nukhba members begin their long and rigorous land and sea-based training when they are 18 to 20 years old, and may be recruited from fishermen.[6]
History
Senior members of the Al-Qassam Brigades decided to establish a special forces unit after the 2008–2009 Gaza War.[2]
Nukhba members participated in the 2014 and 2021 conflicts with Israel, including the 2014 Zikim attack.[2]
In 2017, some of its members defected to join ISIS in the Sinai Peninsula.[7][8]
In 2020 Saudi news media reported that one of the Nukhba force's top officers had defected to Israel.[2]
2023 Israel–Hamas war
Response to October 7 attacks
On October 7, Hamas forces invaded Israel.[9][10] On October 12, 2023, the Jerusalem Post reported that Shin Bet had set up a new unit called Nili – an abbreviation of the Hebrew phrase Netzach Yisrael Lo Yeshaker (transl. The Eternity of Israel Will Not Lie) – tasked with hunting down Nukhba members.[11] They reported, "This force was specifically set up to target members of a special commando unit within Hamas's military wing called Nukhba ("elite")".[11]
In October 2023, an IDF spokesman said that the Israeli air force have been specifically targeting Nukhba members: "We plan to get every one of those people.”[12]
According to the IDF, Ayman Nofal had responsibility for the Nukhba at the Be'eri massacre and Re'im music festival massacre.[13][14] On October 17 Nofal was killed in an airstrike that destroyed four apartment buildings, killing at least 70 other people.[15][16][13][14]
Nukhba prisoners
According to Israel's security service Shin Bet, captured Nukhba members were ordered to kill everyone they saw and carry out atrocities against civilians including women and children.[17] If they brought hostages back to Gaza they would be richly rewarded.[17]
According to footage the Israeli security services released of interrogation of purportedly captured Nukhba members, Hamas has been using medical facilities in the Gaza Strip, especially the Shifa Hospital in Gaza City, to shield themselves from Israeli strikes and that the underground levels of the hospital are utilized for hiding resources like weapons and ammunition. Hamas denied these claims.[18]
Israeli officials have said that Palestinian prisoners of war who were tortured and sexually assaulted were members of the Nukhba and that this justified abuse against them.[3] For example, Knesset member (KM) Hanoch Milwidsky, from the Likud party, said: "If he is a Nukhba, everything is legitimate to do! Everything!" When responding to a question from Arab Israeli KM Ahmad Tibi's criticism of the treatment of Palestinian prisoners by Israeli soldiers.[19][3] Knesset member Simcha Rothman also commented on the Nukhba, "we see over and over again an enormous disconnect between the justice and enforcement agencies, who persecute reservists, heroic fighters, who left everything behind in order to protect us from the Nukhba terrorists, for whom 'animals' is a compliment".[4]
See also
- Redwan Force
- Shayetet 13, Israeli Navy special forces unit
- Syria's Tomorrow Movement § Military wing (Syrian Elite Forces)
Notes
- ^ a b On October 14, 2023, the Israel Defense Forces announced that Ali Al Qadi was killed in a drone attack.[20][21]
- ^ a b Killed by an airstrike on an apartment complex on October 17, 2023.[15]
References
- ^ "Israeli Grief Specialist: 'We Don't Distinguish Between a Child in Gaza and Hamas' Nukhba Force'". Haaretz. June 27, 2024. Retrieved September 17, 2024.
- ^ a b c d Milton-Edwards, Beverly and Stephen Farrell. HAMAS: The Quest for Power. John Wiley & Sons. 2024
- ^ a b c d Simon Speakman Cordall (August 9, 2024). "'Everything is legitimate': Israeli leaders defend soldiers accused of rape". Al Jazeera. Retrieved September 17, 2024.
Hanoch Milwidsky, a member of Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu's ruling Likud party, responded: "If he is a Nukhba [Hamas militant], everything is legitimate to do! Everything!" …
- ^ a b "Ministers, MKs criticize arrests of soldiers suspected of terrorist prisoner abuse". The Jerusalem Post | JPost.com. July 29, 2024. Retrieved September 17, 2024.
MK Simcha Rothman also halted his committee mid-session. Rothman said that "we see over and over again an enormous disconnect between the justice and enforcement agencies, who persecute reservists, heroic fighters, who left everything behind in order to protect us from the Nukhba terrorists, for whom 'animals' is a compliment."
- ^ Cook, Ellie (October 12, 2023). "'Elite' Hamas Unit Behind Saturday Massacre Targeted in Israel Air Strikes". Newsweek. Archived from the original on October 13, 2023. Retrieved October 13, 2023.
- ^ Israel, David (October 22, 2023). "Left Behind: Hamas Terrorist Who Participated in 10/7 Massacre Captured". The Jewish Press. Retrieved November 30, 2023.
- ^ Rothwell, James (October 12, 2023). "Israel sets its sights on destroying Nukhba, the mysterious Hamas commando squad". The Telegraph. Archived from the original on October 13, 2023. Retrieved October 13, 2023.
- ^ Issacharoff, Avi (February 7, 2017). "Elite Hamas fighters defecting to Islamic State". The Times of Israel. Archived from the original on December 5, 2022. Retrieved October 13, 2023.
- ^ Sheils McNamee, Michael (October 11, 2023). "Children among 17 Britons dead or missing in Israel". BBC News. Archived from the original on October 12, 2023. Retrieved October 11, 2023.
- ^ "Israeli death toll from Hamas shock onslaught reaches 1,300". Times of Israel. October 12, 2023. Archived from the original on October 12, 2023. Retrieved September 18, 2024.
- ^ a b Bohbot, Amir (October 22, 2023). "New Israeli unit has one goal: Kill all terrorists involved in massacre". The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved October 23, 2023.
"This force was specifically set up to target members of a special commando unit within Hamas's military wing called Nukhba ("elite") who infiltrated Israel, executed mass killings in various villages and IDF outposts, and then returned to the Gaza Strip."
- ^ Wong, Edward; Yazbek, Hiba (October 13, 2023). "Humanitarian Crisis in Gaza Worsens as Israel Prepares a Possible Invasion". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on October 13, 2023. Retrieved October 13, 2023.
- ^ a b David Brennan Diplomatic (October 17, 2023). "Top Hamas commander killed in Israeli strike". Newsweek. Retrieved September 17, 2024.
- ^ a b Rapaport, Amir (October 20, 2013). "Israel at War – End of Week 2: Eliminating Hamas' Nukhba Terrorists and Preparing for a Ground Operation". israeldefense.co.il. Retrieved October 23, 2013.
- ^ a b "Israel accused of using AI to choose Gaza targets (transcript of interview)". CBC (Canada). April 8, 2024. Retrieved September 17, 2024.
Ayman Nofal. He was the commander of Gaza's central brigade. And the source claimed that the military knowingly authorized to kill 300 Palestinian civilians alongside this target. 300 people. …four multi-story buildings filled with apartments were bombed on the families that were inside. … they found 70 people dead in the first day, and for five days continuously, they took people out of the rubble.
- ^ Iraqi, Amjad (April 3, 2024). "'Lavender': The AI machine directing Israel's bombing spree in Gaza". +972 Magazine. Retrieved September 17, 2024.
In order to assassinate Ayman Nofal, the commander of Hamas' Central Gaza Brigade, a source said the army authorized the killing of approximately 300 civilians, destroying several buildings in airstrikes on Al-Bureij refugee camp on Oct. 17, based on an imprecise pinpointing of Nofal.
- ^ a b "Kill, behead, rape: Interrogated Hamas members detail atrocities against civilians". Times of Israel. October 24, 2023. Retrieved October 24, 2023.
- ^ Zitun, Yoav (October 28, 2023). "Detained terrorists admit Hamas using hospitals to shield themselves". Ynet. Retrieved October 29, 2023.
- ^ "Ministers, MKs criticize arrests of soldiers suspected of terrorist prisoner abuse". The Jerusalem Post, JPost.com. July 29, 2024. Retrieved September 17, 2024.
MK Ahmad Tibi said, "Is inserting an explosive into the rectum of a person legitimate?" Milvetsky responded, "If he is a Nukhba (Hamas commando), everything is legitimate".
- ^ "Hamas top commander Ali Qadi who led Oct 7 massacre eliminated, says Israeli Defence Force". Financial Express. October 14, 2023. Archived from the original on October 16, 2023. Retrieved October 16, 2023.
- ^ Fabian, Emanuel (October 14, 2023). "IDF kills two Hamas commanders in Gaza involved in murderous attack on south". www.timesofisrael.com. Archived from the original on October 15, 2023. Retrieved October 16, 2023.
