Tawfiq Abu Naim

One of the senior members of the Hamas organization in the Gaza Strip, he served as the head of the organization’s security apparatus in the Strip. Born in the Al-Bureij refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip, he was among the first to join the Hamas movement and one of the founders of the organization’s military wing. He was arrested on May 15, 1989, following his participation in the kidnapping and murder of Palestinians suspected of collaborating with Israel. The main charges for which he was convicted are: manslaughter; kidnapping, coercion, and false imprisonment; membership in an unlawful organization; and causing serious bodily harm. He was sentenced to life imprisonment. He was released from prison in 2011 as part of the Shalit deal. After his release, he returned to the Gaza Strip and rose to the top ranks of the organization along with his associates Yahya Sinwar, Ruhi Mushtaha, and other released prisoners.