Gaza – Ma'an – Hamas' armed wing, the Al-Qassam Brigades, announced the death of its co-founder in exile Mahmoud Al-Mabhuh, who died of terminal cancer in a hospital in the United Arab Emirates on Wednesday.

The Al-Qassam leader, a refugee who lived the Jabaliya Refugee Camp until he left Gaza for Dubai, was behind a mission that successfully captured two Israeli soldiers, a statement from the brigades said.

Al-Mabhuh captured two Israeli soldiers, Elan Sa’dun and Avi Sbortas, who were killed in the early 1990s by Al-Qassam fighters. "The soldiers were killed in military action following their capture," a statement said.