Al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of the Hamas movement, has published new details about the first operation conducted by its “marine commando” unit against the Israeli occupation.

On its website, al-Qassam revealed the Hamdi Ansiou is the unit’s first martyr, who fell by carrying out a naval operation by detonating his booby-trapped boat upon collision with an Israeli boat 14 years ago.

According to what was published, the operation was carried out by Hamdi Ansiou on the 7th of November, 2000, and showcased the neverending innovations of the Brigades that confused the enemy and sowed terror along the occupied coast.

Ansiou was born in 1973 in the Al-Shati (Beach) refugee camp, west of Gaza, in a family that was known for its commitment to its religion and its love for its homeland.

With the outbreak of the first Palestinian Intifada (1987-1994), he joined the ranks of the Hamas movement and was one of its prominent activists in the Western Mosque in the refugee camp.

Al-Qassam asserts its responsibility 

Al-Qassam Brigades claimed the operation weeks after its occurrence and issued a military statement on December 10, 2000, declaring its responsibility for the operation carried out by Hamdi Arafat Ansiou.

In its statement, the brigades said: "We announce our responsibility at the right time, and the delay in claiming the operation was for security reasons," explaining that "Hamdi blew up a boat loaded with 120 kilograms of TNT in a wasp-type Israeli boat, which led to destroying it in addition to killing and wounding those onboard.”

The brigades further asserted that Ansiou’s operation was not the last of its kind, recalling operation “Zikim” during the battle of al-Asef al-Ma’koul, in which al-Qassam dealt the Israelis a painful blow that shattered “Israel's” security doctrine, when 5 fighters stormed a military base and blew up an Israeli tank, before clashing at a close range with the occupation soldiers.

Al-Qanou' to Al Mayadeen: We are ready to confront the occupation

In this regard, Hamas spokesperson Abd al-Latif al-Qanou’ told Al Mayadeen that the Qassam Brigades' disclosure of the commando operation video confirms the state of readiness in the face of the Israeli occupation, adding that the resistance continues its preparations and development of its capabilities in order to confront the occupation in any future battle.

Al-Qanou’ stressed that the resistance is developing its capabilities at various levels, pointing out that the resistance has the right to amass its strength and to possess all tools given that all options are open in confrontation.