One of the most shocking terror cases in Jerusalem over the years was the murder of Shin Bet handler (Shin Bet agent) Haim Nahmani, who was only 26 at the time of his death in 1993. The case shook Israel’s internal security agency and led to a change in how the secret service operated its human sources. Nahmani, born in Jerusalem and a graduate of the Denmark High School in the city, was killed in the heart of his hometown by a Palestinian informant he had recruited. The source, aided by his relatives, decided to murder his handler in order to cleanse himself of the stigma of collaboration and to gain recognition from Hamas.
In the current hostage deal, two of Nahmani’s killers – who were sentenced to life imprisonment – are being released. Back in the 2011 Gilad Shalit deal, Hamas had demanded their release as well, but the Shin Bet managed to block it at the last moment. This time, however, they will go free.
The murder of a Shin Bet officer in central Jerusalem
On January 3, 1993, Shin Bet officer Haim Nahmani, known within the organization as “Captain Afif,” was due to meet an informant at a safe apartment on 14 Tibbon Street in the Rehavia neighborhood of Jerusalem. The informant, Maher Abu Srour (known as Hamza), a resident of the al-Ayda refugee camp at the northern entrance to Bethlehem, had already decided to join Hamas. He knew Hamas would investigate him and might uncover his cooperation with Israel.
To preempt that and to secure his own status within Hamas, Hamza resolved to kill Nahmani. He arrived at the apartment accompanied by his cousins, Nasser Abu Srour and Mahmoud Abu Srour, whom he had recruited to help him. Hamza entered the apartment alone while the cousins waited in the car. Once inside, he pulled out a knife and began stabbing Nahmani. After five minutes, as planned, Nasser entered the apartment and joined Hamza in the murder, stabbing Nahmani and striking him with a hammer until he died. They returned to the car, and Mahmoud drove them away. The three disposed of their bloodstained clothes and set the car on fire.
(Before Hamas Deal – Terrorist Freed in Jerusalem)
Two of the killers to be freed in the hostage deal
Hamza, the mastermind of the murder, was later killed while trying to carry out another attack. Nasser and Mahmoud Abu Srour were captured shortly afterward and sentenced to life in prison.
During their imprisonment, the Abu Srour cousins managed to complete both bachelor’s and master’s degrees at Al-Quds University. As part of the Gilad Shalit deal, Hamas once again demanded their release. Despite the Shin Bet’s opposition, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had agreed, and Nahmani’s family had already been told they would be freed. Only at the very last moment were their names removed from the list of released prisoners. This time, however, there is no such removal – Nasser and Mahmoud Abu Srour are listed in the hostage deal, along with 248 other prisoners sentenced to life.
