2023 PLO summer camps will highlight dead terrorists as “Moons” in the skies of “Palestine”
Director-General of the PLO Supreme Council for Youth and Sports’ General Administration of Youth Affairs Muhammad Sbeihat has announced that this year, the PLO council’s official summer camps will focus on dead terrorists – or as they are called in PA terminology “Martyrs” – under the slogan “Moons and Not Numbers.”
“Moons” is a term Palestinians have been using for terrorists who died while attacking Israel. Referring to the upsurge in Palestinian terror attacks against Israel in recent months – and the accompanying rise in the number of dead terrorists – Sbeihat explained to the host on official PA TV that “‘Moons’ as you know, and especially in this period, symbolize the Martyrs.”
Sbeihat also explained that “not Numbers” refers to Israel’s burial of such terrorists in the so-called “numbered cemeteries” – Israel’s Cemeteries for Enemy Casualties – where dead terrorists who are not handed over to the PA immediately are buried in numbered caskets after their identities are documented (see below). This irritates the PA immensely, as they would prefer to give these “heroes” of their society the usual honorable burial fitting for a terrorist “Martyr.”
– “Moons” is a name of honor for terrorists who died while attacking Israel –so-called “Martyrs”
– Among the PA’s “moons”:
5 Hamas terrorists – “the moons of Jericho”
1 terrorist murderer and 8 terrorist shooters – “the moons of Jenin”
6 terrorist shooters – “the moons of Palestine”
3 terrorist shooters – “the moons of Nablus”
Fatah-run Awdah TV host: “We are talking about these important summer camps… There is a very large number of young people, and every year there is a certain slogan… This year it is ‘Moons and Not Numbers.’ …”
Director-General of the PLO Supreme Council for Youth and Sports’ General Administration of Youth Affairs Muhammad Sbeihat: “It is always the [PLO] Supreme Commission for Youth and Sports’ instructions that there be a national aspect, whether it’s the slogan or even the content of the summer camps… This year … it is the bodies of the Martyrs (i.e., dead terrorists) that are being held by the Israeli occupation… [Israel calls them] ‘the Martyrs of the numbered cemeteries,’ so we thought the slogan this year should be a slogan that has a connection to these Martyrs…: ‘Moons and Not Numbers.’ ‘Moons’ as you know, and especially in this period, symbolize the Martyrs. The Martyrs whose bodies are being held will be part of the program that will be utilized during this [summer’s camp] program.”
– [Fatah-run Awdah TV, Facebook page, March 14, 2023]
The PA and Fatah have already been using the pet name “moons” for terrorists, and this is now the message the PLO Supreme Council for Youth and Sports wants to emphasize to Palestinian children in this year’s summer camps.
The following are examples of terrorists who have been referred to as “moons” by the PA and Fatah:
“The moons of Jericho”
The official PA daily printed the image below with the headline “the moons of Jericho,” with photos and names of 5 Hamas terrorists who were killed shooting at Israeli forces who came to arrest a Hamas terror cell.
Text at top of image: “The moons of Jericho” – [Official PA daily Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, Feb. 7, 2023]
Reporting on a condolence visit by Fatah members to the families of 8 terrorists who were killed when they shot at Israeli soldiers conducting a counter-terror operation in Jenin, Abbas’ Fatah Movement referred to them as “the moons of Jenin.”
Posted text: “Fatah Movement Central Committee members Abbas Zaki and Dr. Sabri Saidam and [PA] Minister of Health Dr. Mai Al-Kaila paying a condolence visit to the moons of Jenin.” – [Fatah Commission of Information and Culture, Facebook page, Jan. 27, 2023]
However, these terrorists were not the first “moons of Jenin.” Terrorist Ahmed Abed, who murdered an Israeli army officer together with an accomplice and was a member of the PA Security Forces, received the distinction from Fatah of being “one of the moons of Jenin” the year before:
Posted text: “One of the moons of Jenin and one of those who ascended to Heaven while fighting the occupation forces is Martyr Ahmed Abed (i.e., terrorist, murdered 1 together with an accomplice), a member of the Palestinian [PA] military intelligence #Glory_to_the_Martyrs” – [Facebook page of the Fatah Commission of Culture and Information, Sept. 14, 2022]
“The six moons of Palestine”
When 5 Palestinian terrorists and members of the independent terror cell “the Lion’s Den” were killed while shooting at Israeli soldiers raiding and destroying a headquarters and a weapons and explosives laboratory of the cell in Nablus, an editorial in the official PA daily praised and mourned them as “moons in the skies” of “Palestine.” On the same day, another terrorist was killed in Ramallah while participating in violent riots in which explosives were thrown at Israeli soldiers. The total of 6 “Martyrs” led to the term “the six moons of Palestine,” which was also used by PA Prime Minister Muhammad Shtayyeh, PA Supreme Shari’ah Judge Mahmoud Al-Habbash, and Abbas’ Fatah Movement:
“There is none like them, there is none like the Martyrs – all the Martyrs. No one is more honored than they are, as they gave their blood abundantly for the sake of their people’s peace and freedom, and so that the rose of their homeland’s independence would blossom. There is none like them, as Palestine has become a medal on their chests, and they have become moons in its skies…” – [Editorial in the official PA daily Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, Oct. 25, 2022]
The image above shows the 6 terrorists nicknamed “the six moons of Palestine.” It was shared by PA Prime Minister Muhammad Shtayyeh and PA Supreme Shari’ah Judge of Palestine and PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas’ Advisor on Religious Affairs and Islamic Relations Mahmoud Al-Habbash:
Text on image: “The six moons of Palestine …
Posted text: “Glory and eternity to the six moons of Palestine who ascended to Heaven… after they engraved their names on the hearts of their people while adhering to the certainty of the victory of the land’s owners over the occupier…
On behalf of the [PA] government, I express warm and sincere condolences to the Martyrs’ families…” – [Facebook page of PA Prime Minister Muhammad Shtayyeh, Oct. 25, 2022]
Posted text: “[PA] Supreme Shari’ah Judge of Palestine and [PA] President [Mahmoud Abbas’] Advisor on Religious Affairs and Islamic Relations Mahmoud Al-Habbash… emphasized that the blood of our pure-hearted Martyrs will continue to be a curse pursuing the occupation and its fascist and criminal leaders, and it will continue to be a light illuminating the path to freedom and establishing our independent Palestinian state whose capital is Jerusalem.” – [Facebook page of PA Supreme Shari’ah Judge Mahmoud Al-Habbash, Oct. 25, 2022]
Text on image: “The six moons of Palestine”
Posted text: “In the picture: The six moons of Palestine who were shot by the occupation and ascended to Heaven…
Martyr Hamdi Sharaf – Nablus
Martyr Ali Antar – Nablus
Martyr Wadi’ Al-Houh – Nablus
Martyr Hamdi Qayyim – Nablus
Martyr Mash’al Baghdadi – Nablus
Martyr Qusai Al-Tamimi – Nabi Saleh, Ramallah” – [Facebook page of the Fatah Commission of Information and Culture, Oct. 25, 2022]
“The moons of Nablus”
After terrorists had committed six shooting attacks and were killed on their way to another while armed with M-16 semi-automatic assault rifles, the official PA daily praised them as “the moons of Nablus”:
“During the reception of those giving congratulations over the death of the moons of Nablusas Martyrs, the three mothers emphasized to [the official PA daily] Al-Hayat Al-Jadida that Fatah is a movement that gives greatly, which will continue to give birth to heroes who will continue the path of Adham, Muhammad, and Ashraf. They emphasized that their sons are not more precious than the land of Palestine, and that they [the mothers] are now adorning themselves with pride and honor. Being called ‘mother of a Martyr’ was the greatest honor for them.”
[Official PA daily Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, Feb. 15, 2022]
Palestinian Media Watch has documented that PLO summer camps teach Palestinian children infantry and combat skills and that terrorist “Martyrs” are honorable and should be viewed as role models. Now they will be taught that terrorists who seek to kill Israelis and die in the process are also “moons in the skies of Palestine.”
The Cemeteries for Enemy Casualties (numbered cemeteries) are two burial sites maintained by the Israeli army for burying the bodies of enemy soldiers during wartime as well as terrorists. They are fenced and well-marked. Graves have markers instead of gravestones. Burial is temporary, as the bodies are eventually returned to their countries of origin. No ceremony is held. The bodies are buried in numbered caskets after their identities are documented.
The following are longer excerpts of the statements referring to terrorists as “moons”:
“The moons of Jericho”:
Headline: “The occupation assassinates 5 young people in the Aqabat Jaber refugee camp and kidnaps their bodies”
“Early yesterday morning, Monday [Feb. 6, 2023], the Israeli occupation forces assassinated 5 young people in the Aqabat Jaber refugee camp south of Jericho (refers to 5 Hamas terrorists who shot at Israeli forces, and previously were involved in a shooting at an Israeli restaurant -Ed.). They grabbed their bodies and also three wounded people.
The [PA] Ministry of Health noted that it learned from the general authority for civilian affairs that the Martyrs are Rafat Wael Aweidat, 21, Ibrahim Wael Aweidat, 27, Malek Awni Lafi, 22, Adham Majdi Aweidat, 22, and Thaer Aweidat, 28. The Ministry of Health added that together with the authority for civilian affairs it is monitoring the medical condition of the wounded who were kidnapped by the occupation forces.
It should be noted that large forces from the occupation army launched their second act of aggression in two days against the Aqabat Jaber refugee camp, with military vehicles, bulldozers, and hundreds of soldiers. Their goal was a wooden shack where resistance members had entrenched themselves…
The occupation forces claimed that 2 of the 5 Martyrs are responsible for the shooting attempt at a restaurant by the Dead Sea.”
The article includes an image featuring the pictures and names of the 5 Hamas terrorists killed in the operation.
Text at top of image: “The moons of Jericho”
[Official PA daily Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, Feb. 7, 2023]
Rafat Wael Aweidat, Ibrahim Wael Aweidat, Malek Awni Lafi, Adham Majdi Aweidat, and Thaer Aweidat – Palestinian terrorists and members of the Hamas terror organization who shot at Israeli forces conducting a counter-terror operation in the Aqabat Jaber refugee camp south of Jericho on Feb. 6, 2023. The forces returned fire, killing the 5 terrorists. Israeli forces were in the camp to arrest a Hamas terror cell that shot at an Israeli restaurant at Almog Junction in the Jordan Valley on Jan. 28, 2023 – all 5 terrorists were involved in that shooting attack. Israeli forces arrested 2 senior Hamas members in the operation.
The moons of Jenin:
Posted text: “Fatah Movement Central Committee members Abbas Zaki and Dr. Sabri Saidam and [PA] Minister of Health Dr. Mai Al-Kaila paying a condolence visit to the moons of Jenin, of its [Jenin] refugee camp, and of the two towns Al-Yamun and Burqin in western Jenin.”
[Fatah Commission of Information and Culture, Facebook page, Jan. 27, 2023]
Sabri Saidam also serves as Fatah Revolutionary Council Deputy Secretary, PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas’ advisor for communications and information technology, and is a former PA Minister of Education.
Abbas Zaki also serves as Fatah Commissioner for Arab and China Relations.
Jenin gun battle, January 2023 – Palestinian terrorists opened fire on Israeli soldiers while they were conducting a counter-terror operation in Jenin on Jan. 26, 2023. In the ensuing gun battle 8 terrorists, including PA police officer and Al-Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigades (Fatah’s military wing) member Izz Al-Din Salahat, were killed, as was 1 Palestinian civilian. The soldiers were in Jenin to arrest a senior Islamic Jihad terrorist and prevent an imminent terror attack.
“The six moons of Palestine”:
Excerpt of an editorial in the official PA daily
Headline: “Their blood speaks”
“There is none like them, there is none like the Martyrs – all the Martyrs. No one is more honored than they are, as they gave their blood abundantly for the sake of their people’s peace and freedom, and so that the rose of their homeland’s independence would blossom. There is none like them, as Palestine has become a medal on their chests, and they have become moons in its skies (apparently refers to 5 terrorists who shot at Israeli soldiers and a sixth who participated in violent riots, whom the PA termed “the six moons of Palestine”; see note below -Ed.)…
Peace [to you], O young people of faith, the Martyrs who preserve the ember even in their graves.Glory to the wombs that gave birth to you and to the parents who taught you…
Peace to the neighborhoods in whose streets you walked, and to the hills that you climbed. Peace [to you], brave ones, and we always make the same oath to you, make the same commitment to you, and make the same promise to you. We will never deviate from this path until we establish the structure of the free and independent [Palestinian] state whose capital is Jerusalem.”
[Official PA daily Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, Oct. 25, 2022]
Wadi’ Al-Houh, Ali Antar, Hamdi Qayyim, Mash’al Baghdadi, Hamdi Sharaf – Palestinian terrorists and members of the independent terror cell “the Lion’s Den” who shot at Israeli soldiers raiding and destroying a headquarters and weapons and explosives laboratory of the cell in Nablus on Oct. 25, 2022. The soldiers returned fire in self-defense, killing the 5 terrorists. Al-Houh was a senior member of “the Lion’s Den.” During the raid PA Security Forces shot at the Israeli soldiers, who returned fire in self-defense and wounded several of them.
Qusai Al-Tamimi – 19-year-old Palestinian terrorist who participated in violent riots in which explosives were thrown at Israeli soldiers in Nabi Saleh northwest of Ramallah on Oct. 25, 2022. The soldiers returned fire in self-defense, killing Al-Tamimi.
The Lion’s Den – an independent Palestinian terror cell largely based in Nablus. It has not stated an official affiliation and its members come from a variety of terror organizations, including Fatah’s military wing the Al-Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigades, Hamas, and Islamic Jihad. The Lion’s Den was responsible for numerous shooting attacks in the West Bank during 2022, with an uptick in shootings during September-October. Two of the main founders of the cell were Fatah terrorists Muhammad Al-Azizi and Ibrahim Al-Nabulsi, both killed in shootouts with Israeli forces on July 24, 2022 and Aug. 9, 2022 respectively.
The fourth image in the bulletin above shows terrorists Wadi’ Al-Houh, Ali Antar, Hamdi Qayyim, Mash’al Baghdadi, and Hamdi Sharaf, who shot at Israeli soldiers, and terrorist Qusai Al-Tamimi, who participated in violent riots. In the background is the Dome of the Rock.
It was posted on the Facebook pages of PA Prime Minister Muhammad Shtayyeh and PA Supreme Shari’ah Judge Mahmoud Al-Habbash:
Text on image: “The six moons of Palestine
Martyr Hamdi Sharaf
Martyr Mash’al Baghdadi
Martyr Hamdi Qayyim
Martyr Ali Antar
Martyr Wadi’ Al-Houh
Martyr Qusai Al-Tamimi”
Posted text: “Glory and eternity to the six moons of Palestine who ascended to Heaven early this morning [Oct. 25, 2022] in Nablus and Ramallah, after they engraved their names on the hearts of their people while adhering to the certainty of the victory of the land’s owners over the occupier. Shame on this criminal occupation, which is funding its elections with Palestinian blood.
On behalf of the [PA] government, I express warm and sincere condolences to the Martyrs’ families. We pray to Almighty Allah that He will wrap them in His great mercies, will have them dwell in the expanses of Paradise, and will endow their families with endurance.”
[Facebook page of PA Prime Minister Muhammad Shtayyeh, Oct. 25, 2022]
Posted text: “[PA Supreme Shari’ah Judge Mahmoud] Al-Habbash: Resistance to the occupation is a legitimate right, the world must stop the massacre that Israel is committing against our people.
Ramallah – Oct. 25, 2022
[PA] Supreme Shari’ah Judge of Palestine and [PA] President [Mahmoud Abbas’] Advisor on Religious Affairs and Islamic Relations Mahmoud Al-Habbash condemned the despicable massacre that the Israeli occupation forces committed against our people in the cities of Nablus and Ramallah early this morning (refers to Israel raid on terror cell headquarters in which 5 terrorists were killed and violent Palestinian riots in which 1 terrorist was killed; see notes below -Ed.). As a result of this 6 Martyrs ascended to Heaven, dozens were wounded, and in addition extensive damage was caused to buildings and homes inhabited by civilians in the old city of Nablus.
In a press release Al-Habbash said that resistance to the occupation is a legitimate right of peoples that aspire to freedom and being extricated from the claws of colonialism, injustice, and aggression. He added that the Palestinian people has been resisting the occupation for approximately 100 years, and that its resistance with all its types will not stop until it achieves freedom and dignity – even if this takes another 100 years. He also emphasized that the blood of our pure-hearted Martyrs will continue to be a curse pursuing the occupation and its fascist and criminal leaders, and it will continue to be a light illuminating the path to freedom and establishing our independent Palestinian state whose capital is Jerusalem.”
[Facebook page of PA Supreme Shari’ah Judge Mahmoud Al-Habbash, Oct. 25, 2022]
Mahmoud Al-Habbash also serves as Chairman of the Supreme Council for Shari’ah Justice.
The fifth image in the bulletin above shows terrorists Wadi’ Al-Houh, Ali Antar, Hamdi Qayyim, Mash’al Baghdadi, Hamdi Sharaf, and Qusai Al-Tamimi.
Posted text: “In the picture: The six moons of Palestine who were shot by the occupation and ascended to Heaven early this morning [Oct. 25, 2022] in Nablus and Ramallah
Martyr Hamdi Sharaf (i.e., Sharaf and the following 4 are terrorists who shot at Israeli soldiers) – Nablus
Martyr Ali Antar – Nablus
Martyr Wadi’ Al-Houh – Nablus
Martyr Hamdi Qayyim – Nablus
Martyr Mash’al Baghdadi – Nablus
Martyr Qusai Al-Tamimi (i.e., terrorist, participated in violent riots) – Nabi Saleh, Ramallah”
Text on image: “The six moons of Palestine”
[Facebook page of the Fatah Commission of Information and Culture, Oct. 25, 2022]
The third image in the bulletin above shows terrorist Ahmed Abed in his PA Security Forces uniform.
Text on image: “Fighting Martyr Ahmed Abed
A member of the Palestinian military intelligence and one of those who ascended to Heaven while fighting the occupation forces in Jenin
Glory to the Martyrs”
Posted text: “One of the moons of Jenin and one of those who ascended to Heaven while fighting the occupation forces is Martyr Ahmed Abed (i.e., terrorist, murdered 1 together with an accomplice), a member of the Palestinian [PA] military intelligence
#Glory_to_the_Martyrs” – [Facebook page of the Fatah Commission of Culture and Information, Sept. 14, 2022]
Ahmed Abed and Abd Al-Rahman Abed – Palestinian terrorists and members of the Al-Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigades (Fatah’s military wing) who shot and killed Israeli army officer Maj. Bar Falah, deputy commander of the Nahal brigade, at Jalame checkpoint near Jenin on Sept. 14, 2022. Other soldiers returned fire, killing the two terrorists. Ahmed Abed was an officer in the PA Security Forces. Fatah officially took responsibility for the attack in a Facebook post that was subsequently removed.
“The moons of Nablus”:
Headline: “Behind every Martyr there is a mighty mother!”
“In the presence of the mothers of the Martyrs the land is embarrassed and the stones are embarrassed, the homeland’s skies tremble in embarrassment and pride, and the words bow down in admiration and loyalty to them and to the homeland.
Three mothers embrace the same sorrow, the same loss, and the same pride, and their eyes sketch the map of Palestine for which they gave as a present that which is most precious of all to them. Standing upright like [Mount] Gerizim and [Mount] Ebal, they confront death in a manner that amazed everyone, and despite the pain and the tears, gusts of joy burst forth, as if they were laughter rising from the rubble. With roses, with fragrant herbs, with sounds of joy – this is how the mothers accompanied their sons and sons of the Fatah Movement Adham [Mabrouka], Muhammad [Al-Dakhil], and Ashraf [Mubaslat] (i.e., terrorists who were killed while planning an imminent shooting attack) to Heaven, after cruel Israeli forces executed them at point blank range in one of the neighborhoods of Nablus on Feb. 8 [2022].
As is fitting for the mothers of the Martyrs, the mother of Martyr Adham Mabrouka accompanied her son who is called Al-Shishani to the wedding (i.e., Martyr’s funeral is considered wedding to the 72 Virgins in Paradise in Islam). She shed two rose tears and did not seclude herself in clothes of mourning. She marched at the front of the participants in the funeral and called out loudly: ‘With spirit, with blood, we will redeem you Martyr.’ His comrades responded to her with one voice: ‘O mother of the Martyr, fortunate are you, all of the men are your children.’ She made sounds of joy while making the sign of victory. With determination and resolution she raised his rifle and shot a bullet of joy and pride, while saying: ‘Today is the wedding day of my beloved, give me blessings and well-wishes.’The same situation repeated itself when the mother of Martyr Muhammad Al-Dakhil participated in the same wedding of Martyrdom, among thousands of participants. She consoled everyone instead of them consoling her, and she did not cry at all but rather caused everyone to cry, as if she knows that an entire people will cry over Muhammad in her stead. She drew attention with her composure, her firm willpower, and her control over her sorrow, while bidding farewell to the flesh of her flesh with sounds of joy…
The situation was different for the mother of Martyr Ashraf Mubaslat. She had no strength to sound calls and make sounds of joy, and her tears and sighs touched the hearts of millions. This is the sorrow of a mother who lost her only son…
During the reception of those giving congratulations over the death of the moons of Nablusas Martyrs, the three mothers emphasized to [the official PA daily] Al-Hayat Al-Jadida that Fatah is a movement that gives greatly, which will continue to give birth to heroes who will continue the path of Adham, Muhammad, and Ashraf. They emphasized that their sons are not more precious than the land of Palestine, and that they [the mothers] are now adorning themselves with pride and honor. Being called ‘mother of a Martyr’ was the greatest honor for them.” – [Official PA daily Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, Feb. 15, 2022]
Adham Mabrouka Al-Shishani, Muhammad Al-Dakhil, and Ashraf Mubaslat – Palestinian terrorists and members of the Al-Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigades (Fatah’s military wing) who were shot and killed by Israeli security forces in Nablus on Feb. 8, 2022. When killed the terrorists were armed with two M-16 semi-automatic assault rifles and intelligence indicated that they were planning an imminent terror attack. The terrorists had already committed six shooting attacks against Israeli civilians and soldiers in previous weeks, among them:
Jan. 25, 2022 – shooting on an Israeli military post near Nablus.
Jan. 27, 2022 – shooting on a military post between the Israeli towns of Elon Moreh and Itamar east of Nablus.
Jan. 29, 2022 – shooting on an Israeli military vehicle as it drove next to the PA village of Tell southwest of Nablus.
Feb. 2, 2022 – shooting on a military post at an entrance to Nablus.
PMW was unable to determine the details of the remaining two attacks, which reportedly targeted Israeli towns.
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