The Yasser Arafat Foundation mourns to our people, our nation, and the free people of the world the passing of the national leader and great fighter, Major General Fouad al-Shobaki, who passed away on Thursday, December 19, 2024, after a long and dedicated struggle in which he never hesitated to play his pivotal role in defending our people and their legitimate national rights.
The Foundation extends its heartfelt condolences to his honorable family, relatives, friends, and loved ones, as well as to our Palestinian people, praying to God to grant him abundant mercy and to place him in His vast paradise, and to grant his family and loved ones patience, solace, and comfort.
Major General Fouad Hegazi Muhammad al-Shobaki was born on March 12, 1940, in Gaza, in Al-Tuffah neighborhood. He earned a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting from Cairo University.
He was a Palestinian politician and military officer, holding the rank of Major General, and a member of the Fatah movement. He was responsible for the central military financial administration in the Palestinian security apparatus. Al-Shobaki joined Fatah and moved with it to Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, and Tunisia. He earned the trust of the founding president, the late Yasser Arafat, as well as the leaders and founders of the movement.
On January 3, 2002, the Israeli occupation forces launched a military operation called "Noah's Ark," aimed at intercepting the "Karine A" ship in the Red Sea and seizing it. The Israeli forces claimed the ship was carrying military equipment for the Palestinians, and they accused al-Shobaki of being directly responsible, considering him the mastermind behind financing and smuggling weapons on the ship.
On March 14, 2006, the occupation forces kidnapped al-Shobaki and sentenced him to 20 years in prison. Later, his sentence was reduced to 17 years. He was the oldest prisoner in Israeli occupation jails and was released on March 13, 2023.