I Shot an Israeli

By Jamil Hamad

Jaffar, 29, a Hamas field leader, spoke to TIME correspondent Jamil Hamad about what it was like to participate in the street fights in Hebron last week.

My colleagues informed me on a cell phone that a military jeep was approaching my area. They gave me the signal: "Your cousin is coming to visit you." Immediately I jumped up and set myself in position. After five minutes, the jeep came, and when it came in range, I pressed the trigger and started shooting. I knew that I had hit my target when I saw the military ambulance arrive at the place. I could see with my eyes the wounded soldier being taken to the ambulance by his comrades.

Before I start shooting, I start to concentrate on reading verses of the Koran because the Koran gives me the courage to fight the Israelis. The Koranic verses make me less afraid of death, and when I finish my job, I feel comfort and strength.

The only way to liberate Palestine is through guns. My first experience with guns goes back five years, when I was given training by a senior Hamas activist. I'm trained to use the Kalashnikov. My gun is very dear to me. Through my gun, I protect my people and my holy places. I admit that I have succeeded in the past two weeks in wounding three Israeli soldiers.

You ask me about the future? First of all, I can see that I am going to be a martyr one of these days. Sometimes I hope that it will happen shortly. You ask me who gives me moral support. My mother, who keeps praying for my safety. Every time I come back, after every shooting, I kiss her hands and ask her to wish for victory for the Muslims.

Marriage is not in my head, for one single reason: I don't want to leave behind a widow and orphans. We have enough Palestinian widows and orphans. I want to marry when I am sure that my wife and my children will be able to live a comfortable life.

If Arafat and the Israelis reach a cease-fire, I don't think I'll agree. I don't want anything to do with Arafat's acceptance of Israel. This land does not belong to Arafat or any Palestinian leader. It belongs to the Muslims, so Arafat and others are not qualified to decide the future of this land.

I don't think in terms of happiness when I kill an Israeli or wound him. I think in terms of carrying out my religious obligations. I am asked by my God to fight the enemies until the last spot of blood.