Overview

Abu Anas al-Ghandour is the U.S.-designated military commander of the northern branch of Hamas’s military wing, Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades.Adnan Abu Amer, “Another Hamas leader added to US terror list,” Al-Monitor, April 21, 2017, http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2017/04/hamas-military-leader-us-terror-list-israel.html#ixzz4fCdBO5cX;
“State Department Terrorist Designation of Abu Anas al-Ghandour,” U.S. Department of State, April 6, 2017,  https://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2017/04/269504.htm. He is a member of the al-Qassam Brigades’ Supreme Military Council, and a close confidant of Hamas’s overall military commander Mohammed Deif.Adnan Abu Amer, “Another Hamas leader added to US terror list,” Al-Monitor, April 21, 2017, http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2017/04/hamas-military-leader-us-terror-list-israel.html#ixzz4fCdBO5cX;
“State Department Terrorist Designation of Abu Anas al-Ghandour,” U.S. Department of State, April 6, 2017,  https://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2017/04/269504.htm. Ghandour has served on the Shura Council, Hamas’ decision-making body, as well as in the group’s political bureau.“State Department Terrorist Designation of Abu Anas al-Ghandour,” U.S. Department of State, April 6, 2017, https://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2017/04/269504.htm. He has plotted and overseen the execution of several terrorist operations, including the kidnapping of Israel Defense Forces (IDF) soldier Gilad Shalit in June 2006.Adnan Abu Amer, “Another Hamas leader added to US terror list,” Al-Monitor, April 21, 2017, http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2017/04/hamas-military-leader-us-terror-list-israel.html#ixzz4fCdBO5cX.

Ghandour is believed to have survived two alleged Israeli assassination attempts in 2002 and 2012.Adnan Abu Amer, “Another Hamas leader added to US terror list,” Al-Monitor, April 21, 2017, http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2017/04/hamas-military-leader-us-terror-list-israel.html#ixzz4fCdBO5cX. He was also reportedly detained by Israel from 1988 to 1995, and by the Palestinian Authority from 1995 to 2000—though there is little detail on his arrests.Adnan Abu Amer, “Another Hamas leader added to US terror list,” Al-Monitor, April 21, 2017, http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2017/04/hamas-military-leader-us-terror-list-israel.html#ixzz4fCdBO5cX. In February 2003, the IDF demolished Ghandour’s home in retaliation for his suspected role in a roadside bomb that killed four Israeli soldiers earlier that month.Dan Collins, “Israel Kills Top Hamas Operative,” CBS News, February 28, 2003, http://www.cbsnews.com/news/israel-kills-top-hamas-operative/;
“Gaza bomb kills four Israeli soldiers,” BBC February 18, 2003, http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/2765545.stm.

Reportedly viewed by Palestinians as a hardline commander, Ghandour oversaw a three-week battle against the IDF in northern Gaza in October 2004.Adnan Abu Amer, “Another Hamas leader added to US terror list,” Al-Monitor, April 21, 2017, http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2017/04/hamas-military-leader-us-terror-list-israel.html#ixzz4fCdBO5cX;
“State Department Terrorist Designation of Abu Anas al-Ghandour,” U.S. Department of State, April 6, 2017,  https://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2017/04/269504.htm. In 2006, Ghandour was involved in an attack on the IDF base at Kerem Shalom border crossing, during which Hamas operatives kidnapped IDF soldier Gilad Shalit, a dual French-Israeli citizen. The assault left two IDF soldiers dead and four others wounded. Shalit was held until October 2011, when Hamas released him to Israel in exchange for 1,000 Palestinian prisoners.“State Department Terrorist Designation of Abu Anas al-Ghandour,” U.S. Department of State, April 6, 2017, https://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2017/04/269504.htm;
Ethan Bronner and Stephen Farrell, “Israeli Soldier Swapped for Hundreds of Palestinians,” New York Times, October 18, 2011, http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/19/world/middleeast/israel-and-palestinians-begin-prisoner-exchange.html.

Ghandour was also active in offenses during the 2014 Israel-Gaza conflict. On July 9, 2014, the IDF destroyed Ghandour’s house for his role in launching rockets from the northern Gaza Strip.Adnan Abu Amer, “Another Hamas leader added to US terror list,” Al-Monitor, April 21, 2017, http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2017/04/hamas-military-leader-us-terror-list-israel.html#ixzz4fCdBO5cX;
“LIVE UPDATES: Operation Protective Edge, Day 2,” Haaretz, July 9, 2014,  http://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/1.603913. Ghandour was also included by name in a March 2015 U.S. lawsuit against Hamas, filed by the Israel Law Centre, for alleged war crimes during the 2014 conflict.AFP-JIJI, “U.S. brands Hamas Gaza brigade leader ‘global terrorist’,” Japan Times, April 7, 2017, http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2017/04/07/world/u-s-brands-hamas-gaza-brigade-leader-global-terrorist/#.WP-ikPnyv3g. The Israel Law Centre, known as Shurat HaDin, filed a complaint on behalf of 26 Americans and dual Israeli-American citizens who were in Ben-Gurion Airport when Hamas fired rockets at that airport in July 2014.Ruta Kupfer, “American Passengers to Sue Hamas for Rockers on Ben-Gurion Airport,” Haaretz, March 31, 2015, http://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/.premium-1.649819.

On April 6, 2017, the U.S. Department of State designated Ghandour as a global terrorist for his membership in Hamas and his involvement in terrorist activities. In response to the designation, Hamas released a statement that called the Treasury’s decision “unethical.”“State Department Terrorist Designation of Abu Anas al-Ghandour,” U.S. Department of State, April 6, 2017, https://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2017/04/269504.htm;
Adnan Abu Amer, “Another Hamas leader added to US terror list,” Al-Monitor, April 21, 2017, http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2017/04/hamas-military-leader-us-terror-list-israel.html#ixzz4fCdBO5cX.