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PA Accuses Israel of Assassinating Adnan, Islamic Jihad Vows Vengeance

A vigil in front of the Church of the Nativity to condemn the death of Khader Adnan in Israeli prisons (Wafa)
A vigil in front of the Church of the Nativity to condemn the death of Khader Adnan in Israeli prisons (Wafa)
    Ramallah - Tel Aviv - Kifah Zboun and Asharq Al-Awsat
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PA Accuses Israel of Assassinating Adnan, Islamic Jihad Vows Vengeance

A vigil in front of the Church of the Nativity to condemn the death of Khader Adnan in Israeli prisons (Wafa)
A vigil in front of the Church of the Nativity to condemn the death of Khader Adnan in Israeli prisons (Wafa)

Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh has accused Israel of assassinating the prisoner Khader Adnan, one of the most prominent leaders of Islamic Jihad.

Adnan, 44, died in his prison on Tuesday after a long hunger strike that lasted 87 days.

The Israeli Prison Service said in a statement announcing his death that he had been on hunger strike since his arrest on Feb. 5.

Israel's far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir decided to close the cells and prevent the movement of Palestinian prisoners to "prevent riots."

The Palestinian Foreign Ministry condemned the "heinous crime," saying the Israeli government is fully responsible for the death of Adnan.

The Ministry announced that it would submit the file of this crime to the International Criminal Court.

The Arab League condemned the crime of the death of Adnan, saying Israel is fully responsible.

Meanwhile, the wife of Adnan, Randa Musa, held a press conference in Araba town, near Jenin, saying the family will receive well-wishers because Adnan's martyrdom brings them pride and honor.

"We do not want the weapons not used to free the Sheikh (Adnan) to be used after his death. We do not want to see any bloodshed," she announced.

In a will written on Apr. 2, Adnan urged the Palestinian people not to "despair no matter the occupier's actions, regardless of the extent of their escalation in their occupation, aggression, oppression, and transgression."

In his will, he asked his family |not to allow the occupier” to carry out an autopsy on his body.

Physicians for Human Rights in Israel said that its doctors visited Adnan and were concerned about his severe and life-threatening health condition, asserting the need to transfer him immediately to a hospital.

Israeli rights group B'Tselem described the hunger strike of Khader Adnan as "a form of non-violent protest against his arrest and the injustices of the occupation."

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) offered its condolences to Adnan's family and called on Israel to release his body so his loved ones "can mourn and arrange a dignified burial."

In a statement, the head of the Palestinian Prisoners Association, Qadri Abu Bakr, confirmed that the authority submitted an urgent request not to carry out an autopsy on Adnan's body, indicating that there was no date for handing over his body yet.

Secretary General of the Islamic Jihad Movement Ziyad al-Nakhala said in a statement that Israel will pay the price for its crime. Hamas also threatened to respond.

On Tuesday, Israeli tanks bombed a site east of Gaza in response to rockets fired from the Strip after the death of Adnan.

The Israeli army said that at least 22 rockets were fired from Gaza, and it responded, downing four while the other 16 fell in open areas.

The al-Quds Brigades, the military arm of Jihad, declared a state of alert among its fighters, and the movement's officials canceled their travel outside the Gaza Strip to join the meeting of the movement's political bureau.

The Israeli army officially canceled pre-planned maneuvers around the Gaza Strip and alerted the Strip's borders for fear of attacks following the death of Adnan.

Elior Levy, a Palestinian Affairs Correspondent and Analyst for Kan Channel, tweeted that it was a "problematic morning for Israel," considering Adnan as a symbol of Palestinian steadfastness and resistance to Israeli detention. He noted that Islamic Jihad could be preparing for a response.

However, it is believed in Israel that Jihad is not ready to enter a round of fighting alone, without Hamas, which will avoid entering into battle but will not prevent the factions from firing rockets.

Meanwhile, gunmen attacked a settler vehicle near Tulkarm, injuring several. The armed groups that launched the attack vowed to escalate in the West Bank as revenge for Adnan.

The prisons witnessed unprecedented tensions and confrontations, and the Supreme Emergency Committee for Palestinian Prisoners Affairs declared a state of alert until the crime was reciprocated.

The national and Islamic forces declared a comprehensive strike in the West Bank, the Gaza Strip, and Jerusalem, organized angry vigils, and opened funeral homes in the main cities. Universities and schools were closed, and lawyers suspended their work before the Palestinian and Israeli courts.

The Palestinian Authority demanded the formation of an international commission of inquiry into the circumstances of Adnan's execution, as the Israeli authorities transferred his body and the security services began discussing handing over his body to his family.

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UNIFIL Chief Says Israeli Occupation Threatens Lebanon Peace Track

The head of the United Nations peacekeeping mission in Lebanon (UNIFIL) Lt. Gen. Aroldo Lázaro (UNIFIL)
The head of the United Nations peacekeeping mission in Lebanon (UNIFIL) Lt. Gen. Aroldo Lázaro (UNIFIL)
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UNIFIL Chief Says Israeli Occupation Threatens Lebanon Peace Track

The head of the United Nations peacekeeping mission in Lebanon (UNIFIL) Lt. Gen. Aroldo Lázaro (UNIFIL)
The head of the United Nations peacekeeping mission in Lebanon (UNIFIL) Lt. Gen. Aroldo Lázaro (UNIFIL)

The head of the United Nations peacekeeping mission in Lebanon, Lt. Gen. Aroldo Lázaro, is currently focused on the growing harassment of his forces in the country’s south, a trend that has intensified in recent weeks.

While Lázaro attributes the incidents to misunderstandings with local residents, he underscored that UNIFIL’s freedom of movement is essential to fulfilling its mandate to operate independently and impartially in monitoring and reporting violations of UN Security Council Resolution 1701, regardless of the source.

Since the cessation of hostilities between Hezbollah and Israel in November last year, Lázaro has been working to stabilize the volatile border region and prevent a renewed outbreak of fighting.

He warned that Israel’s continued occupation of Lebanese territory not only constitutes a violation of Lebanon’s sovereignty and Resolution 1701, but also threatens the fragile path toward peace.

Fragile Stability

Speaking to Asharq Al-Awsat, Lázaro described the current situation in UNIFIL’s area of operations—between the Litani River and the Blue Line—as one of fragile stability since the November 27 agreement to halt hostilities.

He said UNIFIL had assisted the Lebanese army in reestablishing a permanent presence at more than 120 sites across the south, in addition to several temporary positions. The mission has also uncovered around 225 arms and ammunition caches, which have been handed over to the Lebanese army.

Lázaro said Israel’s continued military presence and operations in southern Lebanon are obstructing the full deployment of the Lebanese army and preventing thousands of civilians from returning to their homes.

Despite the ceasefire agreement, the Israeli military remains on Lebanese territory, Lázaro told Asharq Al-Awsat, adding that UNIFIL has lodged official and public protests over this presence.

The Israeli military also continues to carry out operations in southern Lebanon in violation of UN Security Council Resolution 1701. These activities are directly impeding the redeployment of the Lebanese army and the return of displaced civilians.

Thousands of Violations Recorded

Lázaro noted that monitoring and reporting violations of Resolution 1701 is central to UNIFIL’s mandate. While the mission supports the ceasefire understanding reached in November 2024, it does not monitor the agreement itself, though overlaps with its reporting under 1701 are frequent.

Since the ceasefire took effect, UNIFIL recorded thousands of violations.

According to Lázaro, they include more than 2,600 airspace violations, 1,400 Israeli military activities north of the Blue Line, over 60 airstrikes and drone attacks, and more than 750 artillery shelling trajectories.

The UNIFIL chief said he has consistently urged Israel to fully withdraw from all Lebanese territories it continues to occupy. He added that the mission is working closely with the Lebanese army, which is accelerating recruitment and redeployment efforts in the south.

Open Lines of Communication

UNIFIL’s primary focus remains on encouraging the parties to fully implement Resolution 1701, Lázaro said.

Through liaison and coordination mechanisms, UNIFIL maintained open lines of communication with both sides, he affirmed, adding that he remained in direct and regular contact to reduce tensions and prevent misunderstandings or miscalculations.

Mounting Concerns Over Escalation

Lázaro voiced concern that any escalation could jeopardize the progress achieved in recent months.

More than 10,000 UNIFIL personnel on the ground in southern Lebanon continue to monitor the situation around the clock and report violations of Resolution 1701, which underpins our mission’s mandate, he said.

UNIFIL is deeply concerned that further escalation could endanger these gains, especially given the risk to civilian lives and the fragile environment witnessed in recent months.

Any additional flare-up in this volatile situation could have serious consequences for the region, warned Lázaro.

The head of the UN peacekeeping mission also believes that a permanent ceasefire between Hezbollah and Israel is within reach if backed by strong political determination.

Lázaro said the current cessation of hostilities is grounded in UN Security Council Resolution 1701, which serves as a mutually accepted framework for a long-term solution.

He stressed that full implementation of the resolution, coupled with serious political commitment, could bring about a durable end to hostilities.

Arms Caches and Unclear Violations

Lázaro explained that UNIFIL’s role is to monitor and report violations of Resolution 1701, many of which align with—but are not limited to—the ceasefire understanding. Since the truce took effect, peacekeepers have uncovered more than 200 weapons and ammunition caches. These findings have been referred to the Lebanese army for follow-up.

While Israeli airstrikes, artillery shelling, and military presence continue to be recorded, the number of comparable incidents from the Lebanese side has been lower. However, in many cases, the identities of those responsible for violations remain unclear, making it difficult to assign responsibility based solely on UNIFIL's observations.

Operational Disruptions and Security Concerns

The general also addressed recent incidents of harassment and aggression against UNIFIL personnel in southern Lebanon. He emphasized that the mission's freedom of movement is not just a right but a necessity, as it allows peacekeepers to carry out their duties independently and impartially. UNIFIL conducts hundreds of operational activities every day, and any attempt to restrict its movement undermines its ability to monitor and stabilize the situation effectively.

Lázaro says restrictions on the movement of peacekeepers in southern Lebanon remain rare, often arising from misunderstandings. He pointed out that such incidents can occur when patrols take unfamiliar routes or when local residents mistakenly assume that Lebanese army personnel must always accompany UNIFIL units.

Despite these isolated challenges, Lázaro stressed that peacekeepers operate in close coordination with the Lebanese army, working to support the Lebanese government’s implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1701 at a particularly sensitive time. He emphasized that any attempt to obstruct the mission’s work runs counter to Lebanon’s commitment to the resolution.

Coordinated Operations with the Lebanese Army

UNIFIL continues to align its activities with the Lebanese military, and many operations are conducted jointly. However, Lázaro clarified that the mission retains the ability to operate independently, while maintaining coordination with both the Lebanese government and the army in full respect of Lebanon’s sovereignty.

Humanitarian Support in Conflict-Affected Areas

On the humanitarian front, Lázaro said UNIFIL has played a key role in supporting thousands of displaced Lebanese who are gradually returning to the south. Peacekeepers have reopened roads, cleared and destroyed unexploded ordnance, and extended assistance to schools and hospitals.

However, he noted that peacekeeping - not aid delivery - remains the mission’s primary focus, aimed at preventing a relapse into conflict. UNIFIL also facilitates the work of national and international humanitarian agencies, whose efforts are critical for rebuilding lives and infrastructure.

Behind the scenes, UNIFIL has been helping relief and development organizations gain access to communities affected by the conflict. The mission will continue this joint effort, Lázaro said, which remains essential for helping the Lebanese state restore public services and reassert its authority in southern areas.