“For some, heroism is a dream they strive to achieve. But few are those whose actions define heroism”

The formation of Ezzedeen Al-Qassam Brigades in the Northern West Bank was the fruit of the work of a 4-member command team: Yehya Ayyash, Adnan Mer’iy, Ali Asi, and Zahir Jabarin. Working in adverse conditions, the 4 are credited with building a network of Ezzedeen Al-Qassam apparatus in the northern West Bank which carried out sustained, escalating resistance operations against occupation forces and settlers inside and outside the West Bank. Three of the leaders have been martyred and one is imprisoned. The success of these leaders lies in their leadership by example; and not by leadership by remote control.

Name: Adnan Aziz Mer’iy

Nickname: Abu Mujahid

Birth date: 1968

Martyrdom date: 6 August 1993

Hometown: Qarawit Bani Hassan

Residence: Qarawit Bani Hassan

“When you grow up, I’ll take you up to the mountains and make you a brave fighter” Adnan talking to his one-month old son.

Childhood and Education:

Adnan was born in a religious family where the children were cared for and loved very much. The Islamic upbringing was completed by the mosque. As to formal education, Adnan studied his basic and secondary education is his village schools. Then he joined the Qalqilya Shar’eya College, where he joined the Muslim Brotherhood in 1987. In 1988, he was arrested for 20 days, after which he was unable to continue his education because of the occupation’s closure of colleges and higher education institutions.

Intifada Activist:

Adnan was one of the most active Intifada soldiers in his village. He took part in demonstrations and confrontations against the occupation, at a heavy price. In one instance, occupation soldiers imposed a curfew on his village. Adnan and other activist confronted the soldiers, and he sustained a bullet wound in his leg. Due to the curfew, Adnan was transported to a clinic on horseback after taking a mountain road out of the village. A year later, he sustained rubber-coated steel bullet wounds in another demonstration.

Due to his activity, occupation troops put Adnan on their wanted list. But he eluded them with various tricks and security measures.

In 1989, he got married; but two months later was imprisoned by occupation forces.

Imprisonment:

After tips from traitors in 1989, occupation soldiers tracked Adnan. They arrested him on a temporary checkpoint. Adnan served a 30-month sentence for membership in Hamas, throwing Molotov cocktail bombs on occupation army patrols, and blowing up the water reservoirs of illegal settlements.

In prison, Adnan was an active member in the prisoners’ security network in different prisons. And on the family front, his wife gave birth to their first child, a girl he named “Bara’a.”

From Soldier to Leader:

After his release, Adnan was determined to continue along the road of resistance and liberation. And he was determined never to go back to prison. In 1992, Adnan joined the “Quartet Team” consisting of, along side Adnan, the leaders Yehya Ayyash, Ali Asi, and Zahir Jabarin. The 4 leaders established the network of Ezzedeen Al-Qassam cells in the northern West Bank. They planned and executed many martyrdom operations and armed attacks against occupation troops.

Soon afterwards, Adnan was on the occupation’s wanted list. He spent the last 6months of his life in the mountains and valleys of the West Bank. And he considered these short months the best in his life.

Adnan’s family paid a heavy price at the hands of barbaric occupation soldiers who stormed the family house every day or two. Once, the commanding officer of the troops dropped a sound bomb in front of 7-month old Mujahid. But the terrorism against his family only increased Adnan’s resolve and determination.

In a visit to his house, a traitor informed occupation troops that Adnan was in his house. Immediately troops came and surrounded the house. They spent the whole day searching the house but to no avail. Adnan had prepared a secret hideout in the house, where he spent the whole day in a room that occupation troops searched repeatedly! Over 100 soldiers and tens of army vehicles left the house in utter failure. Adnan continued to visit his house once a week despite the danger. And more than once, he escaped his pursuers.

Martyrdom:

On 6 August 1993, Adnan was on a date with destiny. The place was the “Deir Ballout” checkpoint south of the village of Salfil. After surveying the place for a few days, Adnan and Ali Asi decided to attack the checkpoint. Their driver was Mohammad Rayyan.

In the morning the group crept close to the checkpoint and opened fire at the soldiers. Two occupations were killed and another was seriously injured. A 4^th soldier who wasn’t at the scene came back and exchanged fire with the mujahideen. Adnan was hit with a few bullets in his chest and died. Mohammad Rayyan was injured in the leg and arrested. Ali Asi managed to escape.

With this operation, Adnan punctuated his pioneering resistance role in the West Bank. He was a leader who led by example. Having planned and coordinated scores of resistance operations, that didn’t stop him from fighting and showing his soldiers the way to freedom and liberation.