Rafa Salama

Hamas biographies
Yassin + Haniyeh Rantisi Mashal Sinwar + Issa Deif Deif Mabhouh Khan Yunis Beit Hanoun Jabalia
Map: Birthplaces and family origins.
Abbreviations p. parents from b. born in d. death
Leaders Party leader Ahmed Yassin b. Al-Jura, d. 2004 Abdel Aziz al-Rantisi b. Yibna, d. 2004 Ismail Haniyeh p. Al-Jura, b. Al-Shati, d. 2024 Khaled Mashal b. Silwad Leader in Gaza Yahya Sinwar p. Al‑Majal, b. Khan Yunis Deputy Leader Saleh al-Arouri Military wing leader Mohammed Deif p. Kawkaba (near Kokhav Michael) and Al‑Qubayba, b. Khan Yunis d. Failed attempt in 2014 Possible death in 2024
Politicians and officials Male politicians Basem Naim b. Beit Hanoun Head of International relations Previously: Health Minister Aziz Dweik Ali Baraka Mousa Abu Marzook Female politicians Jamila al-Shanti b. Jabalia, m. Widow of Rantisi, d. 2023 Minister for Women's Affairs Government officials in Gaza Faiq Al-Mabhouh p. Bayt Tima, b. Jabalia, d. 2024 Police and crisis management Ashraf al-Qidra Health Ministry spokesperson Officials in Lebanon Osama Hamdan
Ezzedeen Al-Qassam Brigades Mohammed Deif p. Kawkaba (near Kokhav Michael) and Al‑Qubayba, b. Khan Yunis d. failed attempt in 2014 d. unconfirmed in 2024 Marwan Issa p. Ashkelon b. Bureij refugee camp Alleged Al Qassam militants Ahmed Jabari Lehi Street bomber Mahmoud Rushdi Ishtiwi [ar] Muhammad Abu Shamala [ar] Raed al Atar Alleged "Nukhba" Ali Al Qadi
Other biography pages Mahmoud Al-Mabhouh p. Bayt Tima b. Jabalia d. 2010 Ismail Abu Shanab Imad Abbas Imad al-Alami Salah al-Bardawil Wissam Farhat Essam al-Da'alis Abu Omar Hassan Sheikh Abu Salah Taha Hassan Yousef Mahmoud al-Zahar Mohammad Taha
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Rafa Salama (Arabic: رافع سلامة) is a Palestinian militant and the head of the Khan Yunis branch of the Al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas. Israel claims to have assassinated him in an airstrike on Al-Mawasi refugee camp on 13 July 2024, during the Israel–Hamas war.^[1][2]

Salama initially worked at a school in Khan Yunis before joining Hamas in the early 1990s and being appointed as commander of the Khan Yunis brigade under the command of Mohammed Sinwar. Israel has accused Salama of orchestrating the 2006 Gaza cross-border raid and capture of Gilad Shalit, as well as the 7 October attack on Israel.^[1][2]

Israel bombed Salama's family home in Al-Mawasi on 13 July 2024, allegedly killing both Rafa Salama and head of the Al-Qassam Brigades, Mohammed Deif. The massive airstrike on the camp for displaced people also resulting in the killing of at least 90 Palestinians and injury of over 300.^[3] According to the Saudi channel Al-Hadath, Rafa Salama was killed in the strike while Deif was seriously wounded.^[4] Hamas dismissed the IDF's claims that it had targeted its leaders, labeling them as "false allegations" that aimed to "cover up the scale of the horrific massacre".^[5]