Ezzedeen Al-Qassam Brigades

The Ezzedine Al-Qassam Brigades^{[6][lower-alpha 1]} (Arabic: كَتَائِبُ الشَّهِيدِ عِزِّ الدِّينِ الْقَسَّامِ), usually shortened to Al-Qassam Brigades, is the military wing of the Palestinian party Hamas. They operate in the Gaza Strip and are responsible for various military activities, including rocket attacks against Israel. The group was founded in the late 1980s and is named after Izz ad-Din al-Qassam, a Syrian preacher and nationalist leader who played a role in the Arab anti-colonial struggle in the early 20th century. The Brigades have been involved in conflicts with Israel.

Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades[lower-alpha 1] كَتَائِبُ الشَّهِيدِ عِزِّ الدِّينِ الْقَسَّامِ
Al Qassam Brigades logo
Leaders	Mohammed Deif Marwan Issa
Political leader	Ismail Haniyeh
Spokesperson	Abu Obaida
Dates of operation	1991–present
Headquarters	Gaza Strip
Active regions	Palestine  Israel  Lebanon
Ideology	Palestinian self-determination Sunni Islamism[1] Anti-Zionism Palestinian nationalism
Notable attacks	Mehola Junction bombing, Sbarro restaurant suicide bombing, Matza restaurant suicide bombing, Patt Junction bus bombing, Kiryat Menachem bus bombing
Part of	Hamas
Allies	Iran[2] IRGC Quds Force[3]  Hezbollah  North Korea[4]
Opponents	Israel Salafists in Gaza Strip[5]
Battles and wars	Second Intifada, Gaza War (2008–2009), Israel–Hamas war
Designated as a terrorist group by	EU, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, United Kingdom, United States
Website	www.alqassam.ps

Al-Qassam spokesperson, Abu Obaida stated in a public speech in 2023 during the Israeli war on Gaza that 85% of their recruits are orphans who wish for revenge whose parents were killed by the Israeli Forces.^[7]

Related pages

• First Intifada
• Al-Quds Brigades
• Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine
• Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine

Notes

1. Also spelled "Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades" or "Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades"

References

1. • "Understanding Islamism" Archived 7 March 2013 at the Wayback Machine. Cris is Group Middle East/North Africa Report N°37, 2 March 2005.
   • "The New Hamas: Between Resistance and Participation". Middle East Report. Graham Usher, 21 August 2005.
   • "Hamas leader condemns Islamist charity blacklist". Reuters. 23 August 2007. Archived from the original on 5 February 2016. Retrieved 28 January 2009.
   • Hider, James (12 October 2007). "Islamist leader hints at Hamas pull-out from Gaza". The Times. London. Archived from the original on 5 August 2011. Retrieved 28 January 2009.
   • "Council on Foreign Relations". Council on Foreign Relations. Archived from the original on 22 May 2010. Retrieved 27 May 2010.
2. "Hamas leader in Gaza: Ties with Iran now 'fantastic'; we're preparing battle for 'Liberation of Palestine'". Times of Israel. Retrieved 28 October 2023.
3. "On Sanctioning of Four Financial Facilitators for Hamas – United States Department of State". Archived from the original on 9 August 2020. Retrieved 8 August 2020.
4. Young, Benjamin (20 May 2021). "How North Korea supports Palestine and aided Hamas". North Korea News. Retrieved 28 October 2023.
5. "Hamas arrests Salafi sheikh in Gaza over IS ties". Agence France-Presse. Retrieved 6 April 2015.
6. "Thousands in Palestine mourn slain wife, baby of Hamas commander". The Straits Times. 20 August 2014. Retrieved 14 April 2024.
7. "85% of the members of their unit are orphans who lost their relatives in the war". INF News. Retrieved 20 March 2024.^{[permanent dead link]}