Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades
military wing of the Palestinian Hamas organization / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades[6][lower-alpha 1] (Arabic: كتائب الشهيد عز الدين القسام), 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] كتائب الشهيد عز الدين القسام | |
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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 | |
Opponents | |
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]