Saleh Arouri 'assassination will not deter our people from their struggle’: Sister tells Anadolu

By Qais Abu Samra

RAMALLAH, Palestine (AA) - Anadolu visited Dalal Arouri, the sister of assassinated Hamas deputy chief Saleh Arouri and met his mother, Aisha Arouri, at their home Wednesday Arura in northwest Ramallah in the West Bank.

"Saleh's assassination will not deter our people from their struggle, and it will not break the resistance," said his sister.

''In 2002, Israel committed crimes in the Jenin refugee camp, and a stronger generation emerged. What about the current generation who witnesses this war? New leaders will emerge,'' she said.

"We thank God, his martyrdom is a pride for Palestine and his blood, like that of the other martyrs, is not more precious than the blood of the people of Gaza,'' said Dalal.

She noted that she met her brother in late June for Hajj in Saudi Arabia. Upon her return to the West Bank, an Israeli intelligence officer interrogated her at the Palestinian-Jordanian border.

''The officer asked me about Saleh, and I told him, 'Thank God, he's strong.' Then he informed me that it wouldn't be long until his assassination.

''Nothing shall ever happen to us except what Allah has ordained for us, Saleh seeks martyrdom more than you seek to kill him,'' she told the officer.

Referring to protests after his assassination, she said: "Despite the occupier's (Israel) actions, the West Bank erupted in anger over the killing of Saleh, sending a message to the occupation that it has failed in everything."

On Oct. 31, the Israeli army demolished the home of Saleh Arouri in the town of Arura.

Crying and thanking God, Arouri's mother is surrounded by her daughters and other women as she received condolences for the death of her son, whom she had not seen in 20 years.

Arouri was arrested by Israeli authorities, and after his release, he was deported three months later from the West Bank.

"After he was released, we got him married, and after three months, he was deported,'' said his sister.

She noted that Saleh always communicated with them. "Everyone loved him, loved by God and the people."

Israel claims that Arouri is responsible for escalating attacks against the Israeli army and settlers in the West Bank.

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The Israeli army jailed Arouri in administrative detention without trial for limited periods between 1990 and 1992 due to his involvement with the Hamas.

He is considered one of the founders of the Al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas. Between 1991 and 1992, he established cells of the movement's military apparatus in the West Bank.

Lebanon's official news agency reported Tuesday that Arouri was killed in an Israeli drone strike on a Hamas office in Mecherfeh in southern Beirut. At least six people were killed in the attack.

The Palestinian resistance group, Hamas, confirmed the assassination.

Hamas said two commanders of the Al-Qassam Brigades were also killed.

*Writing by Mohammad Sio