According to the Congressional Research Service analyst Jim Zanotti, his command was important due to Rafah being the destination point for the smuggling tunnels from Egypt.

[10][11] Following the riots and criticism of the trial, Yasser Arafat met with civic leaders in Rafah and asked them to restore calm, promising to review the death sentence.

[14][15] During the 2009 Gaza War, al Atar fled to el-Arīsh, Sinai, along with, Mohammed Sinwar a militant who had helped coordinate the abduction of an Israeli soldier, Gilad Shalit.

[4] Reports surfaced that al Atar authorized the August 2010 firing of Grad-style rockets from the Sinai Peninsula at Eilat, Israel and Aqaba, Jordan.

[2][17][18] According to Palestinian sources, al Atar authorized the attack, with the approval of the Hamas leadership abroad, including Khaled Mashal, and with the backing of Iranian intelligence agents.