Adnan Al-Gashey

Adnan Al-Gashey (1946[1] – 1978 or 1979)[2] was one of eight Black September Organization terrorists who invaded the Israeli quarters at the Munich Olympic Village during the 1972 Summer Olympics. The group took hostage nine of the Israeli Olympic delegation after killing Israeli wrestling coach Moshe Weinberg and weightlifter Yossef Romano in the initial takeover. He was the uncle of Jamal Al-Gashey, who also took part in the Munich operation.

Early life

Al-Gashey was a former student of nursing in Tripoli, Libya and had won a scholarship to study chemistry at the American University of Beirut.[3] Unlike some of his fellow fedayeen he did not have any connections with Germany, but was described by author Simon Reeve as "resourceful, reliable and committed."[4]

Role in the Munich Massacre

Though Al-Gashey was one of the eight terrorists involved in the attack at the Israeli delegations quarters in the Munich Olympic Village, unlike some of the other terrorists he is not easily identifiable in any of the footage of the day's events. Any mention of Al-Gashey in the crisis at all is identified by author Simon Reeve who in his book 'One day in September' (2000) cites Al-Gashey as the terrorist that machine gunned the Israeli's in the western helicopter.[5] After the shootout at Fürstenfeldbruck Air Base he was captured along with his nephew Jamal Al-Gashey and Mohammed Safady.

Aftermath

Al Gashey, his nephew Jamal Al-Gashey and Mohammed Safady were released seven and a half weeks later on 29 October 1972 when Lufthansa flight 615 from Damascus to Frankfurt was hijacked by Arab terrorists.[6] The hijackers demanded the release of the three surviving terrorists or they would blow up the plane. Without consulting the Israeli government, the West German government agreed and acquiesced to the terrorists demands.[7]

In a press conference given by the three surviving terrorists in Tripoli, Libya shortly after their release from Germany, Adnan Al-Gashey was questioned by a British journalist if he, personally, shot the Israelis. Al-Gashey replies in English.

Al-Gashey: It's not important to say if I killed Israeli or not.

Reporter: But they were unarmed, the Israeli hostages, did you shoot any of them yourself?

Al-Gashey: They are unarmed, but we have to know that Israeli is our enemy, Israel is our enemy... so we have to kill Israeli because...(Cut off by spokesman interjecting)[8]

Death

Al-Gashey's death has caused something of a controversy in the wake of the Munich Massacre. In the Academy Award-winning documentary One Day in September (2000), it is stated that Israeli Mossad assassination squads killed both him and Mohammad Safady. However, in his book Striking Back: The 1972 Munich Olympics Massacre and Israel's Deadly Response, Aaron J. Klein states that Mossad reported Al-Gashey died naturally in Dubai sometime between 1978–1979, from a genetic heart condition.[9]

It can be assumed however that by the year 2000 with the publishing of Simon Reeve's book, Al-Gashey had died as his wife gives a description of him in the past tense.[10]

Portrayal on film

Al-Gashey is portrayed by French Moroccan actor Karim Saidi in the film Munich (2005).

See also

References
  1. Klein, Aaron J. (2005). Striking back : the 1972 Munich Olympics massacre and Israel's deadly response. Melbourne: Scribe. p. 224. ISBN 1-920769-80-3.
  2. Klein, Aaron J. (2005). Striking back : the 1972 Munich Olympics massacre and Israel's deadly response. Melbourne: Scribe. p. 38. ISBN 1920769803.
  3. Reeve, Simon (2000). One day in September : the full story of the 1972 Munich Olympics massacre and the Israeli revenge operation "Wrath of God" (1st U.S. ed.). New York: Arcade. p. 42. ISBN 1559705477.
  4. Reeve, Simon (2000). One day in September : the full story of the 1972 Munich Olympics massacre and the Israeli revenge operation "Wrath of God" (1st U.S. ed.). New York: Arcade. p. 42. ISBN 1559705477.
  5. Reeve, Simon (2000). One day in September : the full story of the 1972 Munich Olympics massacre and the Israeli revenge operation "Wrath of God" (1st U.S. ed.). New York: Arcade. p. 121. ISBN 1559705477.
  6. Klein, Aaron J. (2005). Striking back : the 1972 Munich Olympics massacre and Israel's deadly response. Melbourne: Scribe. p. 125. ISBN 1920769803.
  7. Klein, Aaron J. (2005). Striking back : the 1972 Munich Olympics massacre and Israel's deadly response. Melbourne: Scribe. p. 125. ISBN 1-920769-80-3.
  8. "SYND 31-10-72 INTERVIEW WITH FREED ARAB GUERRILLAS INVOLVED IN THE MUNICH MASSACRE". 21 July 2015. Retrieved 3 March 2017.
  9. Klein, Aaron J. (2005). Striking back : the 1972 Munich Olympics massacre and Israel's deadly response. Melbourne: Scribe. p. 224. ISBN 1-920769-80-3.
  10. Reeve, Simon (2000). One day in September : the full story of the 1972 Munich Olympics massacre and the Israeli revenge operation "Wrath of God" (1st U.S. ed.). New York: Arcade. p. 42. ISBN 1-55970-547-7.
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