The Palestinian Mujahideen Movement announced the martyrdom of its founder and Secretary-General, Asaad Atiya Abu Sharia, who was assassinated in an Israeli airstrike on the Sabra neighborhood of Gaza City on Saturday.

His brother, Ahmad Abu Sharia, also a senior leader within the movement, was martyred alongside him — both killed with dozens of their family members in the targeted strike.

The movement described the bombing as a calculated and brutal attack that wiped out one of the most prominent pillars of Palestinian resistance. Abu Sharia, a veteran commander and the general leader of the Mujahideen Movement’s military wing, had devoted more than 25 years to resisting the Israeli occupation, surviving five assassination attempts and enduring serious injuries — all without ever abandoning the path of resistance.

In its statement, the Mujahideen Movement praised Abu Sharia’s unwavering dedication, calling him a symbol of resilience and sacrifice. He led countless operations against the Israeli military and remained a beacon of steadfastness even as Israeli forces systematically targeted his family and home.

The human toll on Abu Sharia’s family is staggering. According to the movement, he had already lost five of his brothers to Israeli attacks before the launch of Operation Al-Aqsa Flood. Since the beginning of the current genocidal war on Gaza, he has lost over 150 relatives, including his wife, children, siblings, nieces, nephews, uncles, and cousins — a reflection of the collective punishment endured by Palestinian families under Israel’s relentless bombardment.

His brother Ahmad Abu Sharia, who served as the official responsible for the Gaza sector and was a key figure in the movement’s General Secretariat, was martyred alongside him. The targeting of both leaders and their relatives underscores the Israeli military’s ongoing campaign to decimate the leadership and spirit of Palestinian resistance through indiscriminate and deliberate killings.

This latest massacre comes amid an unprecedented humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza, where over 54,700 Palestinians have been martyred and more than 125,000 wounded since October 2023. The overwhelming majority of the victims are civilians — many of them children — as Israel continues its systematic destruction of Gaza’s neighborhoods, refugee camps, and infrastructure.

Despite the immense loss, the Mujahideen Movement vowed to uphold the legacy of its fallen leader. “The blood of our martyrs strengthens our will,” the statement said. “We will continue the path of resistance until the occupation is dismantled and Palestine is free.” (ILKHA)