The famous voice of “Al-Qassam”
For more than 20 years, the mysterious masked man known as “Abu Obeida” has been one of the most prominent voices of the Palestinian Hamas movement and its military wing, the Qassam Brigades. Although his real name and physical appearance are unknown to anyone except his inner circles, he has gained notoriety through his speeches, statements, military uniform, and the red keffiyeh that conceals his features.
The name “Abu Obeida” rose to prominence during the 55-day Israeli war on the Gaza Strip in 2014. During this war, the masked man served as a link between fighters in tunnels and various combat zones and the people of Gaza, as well as between Gaza and the world.
Abu Ubaida never appeared with his face uncovered. After initially wearing a black mask, he began wearing a red keffiyeh as a veil that covered most of his face except for his eyes. This earned him the popular nickname “the masked one.” He emulated the example of former Qassam Brigades commander Imad Aqel, who was killed by Israel in 1993 and carried out all his operations concealing his face with a red keffiyeh. Following the Israeli withdrawal from Gaza in 2005, Abu Ubaida was officially appointed the Qassam Brigades’ spokesman.
The mysterious masked man gained great popularity in Palestine and various Arab countries due to his credibility, his lack of exaggeration in describing military operations, and his eloquence and strong command of the Arabic language.
Information about the mysterious masked man “Abu Obeida”
*Unofficial sources report that he hails from the displaced town of Na’iliya and currently resides in the Jabalia camp in the northern Gaza Strip.
*His house was bombed more than once (2008, 2012, 2014, and 2023), which suggests that he is one of the figures listed on Israel’s target list.
*He first appeared between 2002 and 2003 as one of the Qassam Brigades’ field officials.
*He held his first press conference on October 2, 2004, at Al-Nour Mosque in the northern Gaza Strip, where he announced a number of military operations carried out by the Al-Qassam Brigades against Israeli forces and tanks, as part of operations dubbed “Days of Rage,” in response to an Israeli operation in the Gaza Strip called “Days of Regret.”
*In June 2006, Abu Obeida appeared for the first time, announcing that Hamas had carried out an operation east of Rafah, which led to the killing of two Israeli soldiers and the capture of soldier Gilad Shalit
* He published his speeches via Telegram.
*It came to prominence after the October 7 attack launched by Hamas.
* Israel targeted him 4 times in 2008, 2012 and 2014, the last of which led to his death.
Is he Hudhayfah al-Kahlout?
Israeli media, citing military and security sources, published a photo of the spokesman for the Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas, known as “Abu Obeida,” without his famous mask, revealing his true identity after his death.
The Times of Israel reported that Hamas spokesman Abu Obeida is Hudhayfah Samir Abdullah al-Kahlout, according to photos released by the Israel Defense Forces in October 2023, which have now been circulated following news of his death
