Hamas Mastermind of Murder Of 3 Israeli Teens Convicted

The Palestinian terrorist who led the kidnapping and murder of three Israeli teens in June was convicted in an Israeli military court on Wednesday.

Hussam Hassan Kawasme was found guilty based on his own confession of masterminding the crime that horrified Israel and the world and started a series of events that led to the war with Hamas last summer.

On June 12, Hamas members kidnapped Gilad Shaar, Hy”d, 16, Naftali Frankel, Hy”d, 16, and Eyal Yifrach Hy”d, 19, as they waited for a ride outside the Alon Shvut community in the Yehudah region.

The Shin Bet named two accomplices, Marwan Kawasme and Amar Abu Aisha, who were killed in a shootout with the IDF near Chevron in September.

Hussam Kawasme, a resident of Chevron, served in an Israeli prison from 1995 to 2002 for involvement in Hamas terrorism, including membership in a cell that perpetrated bombings on Israeli targets.

“He is the son of a family whose sons have been involved in severe terrorist attacks on behalf of Hamas,” the domestic intelligence agency said.

Hussam’s brother Hassin Kawasme is serving a life sentence for his role in a bomb attack on a bus stop across from the Yerushalayim International Convention Center in March 2011. A Scottish tourist was killed in the attack and 39 others were wounded.

Another brother, Mahmoud Kawasme, served a 20-year prison sentence for his role in a twin suicide bombing on buses in Beersheva in August 2004, which killed 16 and wounded  100 people. Mahmoud Kawasme was released as part of the Shalit exchange with Hamas and expelled to the Gaza Strip.

This article appeared in print on page 7 of the January 1st, 2015 edition of Hamodia.