It would not be far-fetched to say that Salah Arouri predicted his death. In a series of statements before and after the Gaza war broke out, he referred to Israel's threats to eliminate the Hamas leadership, sounding as if he knew his fate was sealed: he understood that sooner or later Israel's long hand would reach him.
The Hamas leadership, including Salah al-Arouri, watch with delight the atrocities of October 7
The question was not if, but when. "I feel like I've lived beyond what is necessary, I never expected to reach this age," he said in one statement. You can say a lot of things about him - stupid he wasn't. Arouri was honestly dubbed "Hamas' strategist" after claiming responsibility for the kidnapping and murder of the three teenagers in 2014. Even then, he knew that his name had risen to the top of the list of senior members of the terrorist organization slated for assassination. Nevertheless, he continued to act with great sophistication to promote "quality attacks" throughout Judea and Samaria - without behaving as requested.
Arouri continued his daily routine and moved from place to place openly, without accounting for anyone. He also did not spare public appearances, including interviews with Arab media and meetings with the secretary general of Hezbollah and the heads of other terrorist organizations in Beirut and Doha.
Claimed responsibility for the abduction and murder of the three teenagers in 2014, photo: None
Those who followed his behavior and analyses got the impression of a person who exudes self-confidence, perhaps even too much. It is hard to count the number of times he allowed himself to incite terror and provoke Israel. At least in that respect, he invited his own elimination. "Fight, rise up in whatever your hand achieves. Instead of a thousand young people participating in the resistance, there should be 100,<>, the occupation will be defeated," he urged young Palestinians in a television interview.
However, his harsh and dangerous messages reverberated powerfully on social networks, and sometimes even translated into attacks on the ground. Unlike Mohammed Deif and others who disappeared under the radar, Arouri did not go underground and was not considered an unattainable figure. On the contrary, he used to talk to relatives and acquaintances, and enjoyed the closeness of others and even journalists.
Clashes in Judea and Samaria (archive), photo: Reuters
Number two in Hamas took the threats from Israel seriously, but did not want to spend the rest of his life in a bunker. It didn't suit his personality, nor his self-respect. Although in his title he functioned as deputy head of Hamas' political bureau, his de facto status was "defense minister" of the terrorist organization, at least with regard to Judea and Samaria. In this sector, he not only directed terrorist attacks, financed terrorist cells and devised methods of operation, but also tried to undermine the Palestinian Authority's security apparatuses.
The PA leadership has branded him a hostile element, and therefore will now enjoy the fruits of his assassination. Due to his proximity to the Iranians and Hezbollah, Arouri was also responsible for the "South Lebanon Project" to establish a terrorist infrastructure, which gave him influence inside and outside the organization.
His assassination is a severe blow to Hamas, Photo: AP
His assassination is a severe blow to Hamas in the Judea and Samaria arena and abroad, which means that it will not be easy to find someone who will step into his large and unique shoes - but let us not delude ourselves: past experience teaches us that even if it takes time, a replacement will be found for him in the end.
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