On 20 August 2014 , a Hamas official Salah al-Arouri , who had been publicly identified Check as the mastermind of the operation Military_operation several days after the kidnapping Kidnapping , on 19 June , said that the organization Arranging 's armed Bearing_arms wing , the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades , was behind the kidnapping Kidnapping and murder Killing .

Al-Mabhouh—a co-founder of the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades , the military wing of Hamas—was wanted by the Israeli government for the kidnapping Kidnapping and murder Killing of two Israeli soldiers in 1989 as well as purchasing Commerce_buy arms from Iran for use Using in Gaza ; these have been cited as a possible motive for the assassination Killing .

Eight Palestinians were executed by members of the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades for alleged Statement collaboration with Israel .

During the operation , Hamas , the al-Qassam Brigades and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad ( PIJ ) further intensified Cause_change_of_strength their rocket attacks Attack on Israeli cities and towns , in an operation code named Operation Stones of Baked Clay ( , `` ḥijārat sijīl '' ) by the al-Qassam Brigades , firing Use_firearm over 1,456 rockets into Israel , and an additional 142 which fell Motion_directional inside Gaza itself .

During the operation , Hamas , the al-Qassam Brigades and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad ( PIJ ) further intensified Cause_change_of_strength their rocket attacks Attack on Israeli cities and towns , in an operation code named Operation Stones of Baked Clay ( , `` ḥijārat sijīl '' ) by the al-Qassam Brigades , firing Use_firearm over 1,456 rockets into Israel , and an additional 142 which fell Motion_directional inside Gaza itself .