Al-Qassam Brigades

The Ezzedeen-al-Qassam brigades are the military wing of Palestinian militant (often referred to as terrorist ) group Hamas . Created during the 90’s under the direction of Yahya Ayyash (assassinated by Israel in 1996 ), the primary objective of the group was to build a coherent military organization fighting to reach the goals of Hamas. In the period of 1994 to 2000 , the Ezzedeen-al-Qassam brigades carried out a number of attacks against both Israeli soldiers and civilians that endangered the peace process following the Oslo Accords , which Hamas opposed. At the beginning of the al-Aqsa intifada , the group quickly became the number one enemy of Israel. The group's strength and its ability to carry out complex and lethal attacks surprised many observers. The Ezzedeen-al-Qassam brigades operated several cells in the West Bank , but most of them were destroyed by 2004 following numerous Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) operations in the region. However, the situation is different in the Gaza Strip , the stronghold of the group, where the Ezzedeen-al-Qassam brigades continue to pose a major threat to soldiers and settlers. The fighters' identities and positions in the group remain secret until their death; even when they fight against Israeli incursions, all the militants wear a characteristic black hood on which the group's green headband is attached. The Ezzedeen-al-Qassam brigades operate from a model of independent cells and even high-ranking members are often unaware of the activities of other cells. This allows the group to consistently regenerate if some members are killed. During the al-Aqsa intifada, the leaders of the group were constantly targeted by the IDF in numerous airstrikes that killed many members, including Salah Shahade and Adnan al-Ghoul . The current leader of the brigades, Mohammed Deif , remains at large and is said to have survived at least 5 assassination attempts. In 2003 and 2004 , The Ezzedeen-al-Qassam brigades in Gaza developed a powerful organization that was able to resist many IDF incursions, such as during the Jabalya siege of October 2004 (see Operation Days of Penitence ). However, these battles took a heavy toll in the brigade's ranks, with as many as several hundred of its members killed. Surprisingly, the group seemed to keep gaining power and was able to carry out sophisticated attacks late in 2004 and in the beginning of 2005 . The brigades can count on a huge pool of individuals seeking to join its ranks, an important logistical organisation which supplies the militants with weapons smuggled in Rafah using tunnels, and talented engineers who provide the fighters with homemade weapons such as the al-Bana , the Batar , the Yasin and the Qassam rocket . In the first months of 2005, the Ezzedeen-al-qassam brigades appeared to stand by a truce negotiated between the Palestinian Authority and the government of Israel. However the brigades took advantage of the truce to reinforce and regroup; some militants launched periodic mortar and Qassam rocket barrages toward Israeli settlements in the Gaza Strip. On April 29 , 2005, in response to a call by the Palestinian Authority to lay down weapons, the Ezzedeen-al-qassam brigades unveiled during a rally in the Nuseirat refugee camp in Gaza a new special unit composed of around 30 elite militants wearing all-black military equipment, and stated they have no intention of disarming in the near future.

The Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades (كتائب الشهيد عز الدين القسام; named after Izz ad-Din al-Qassam , often shortened to Al-Qassam Brigades ) is the military wing of Palestinian socio-political organisation Hamas . Created in 1992, under the direction of Yahya Ayyash , the primary objective of the group was to build a coherent military organization to support the goals of Hamas, which was at the time concerned with blocking the Oslo Accords negotiations. From 1994 to 2000, the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades carried out a number of attacks against both Israeli soldiers and civilians. At the beginning of the Second Intifada , the group became a central target of Israel. The group's strength and its ability to carry out complex and lethal attacks surprised many observers. The Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades operated several cells in the West Bank , but most of them were destroyed by 2004 following numerous Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) operations in the region. In contrast, Hamas retained a forceful presence in the Gaza Strip , generally considered its stronghold. The Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades is listed as a terrorist organization by the European Union , the United States , Australia and the United Kingdom . http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/site/en/oj/2005/l_340/l_34020051223en00640066.pdf table of contents Australian National Security - Listing of Terrorist Organisations [1] [2]

The Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades ( ; named after Izz ad-Din al-Qassam , often shortened to Al-Qassam Brigades , EQB ) is the military wing of the Palestinian Hamas organization. Created in mid-1991, it was at the time concerned with blocking the Oslo Accords negotiations. From 1994 to 2000, the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades carried out a number of attacks against Israelis. At the beginning of the Second Intifada , the group became a central target of Israel. The group's strength and its ability to carry out complex and lethal attacks surprised many observers. The Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades operated several cells in the West Bank , but most of them were destroyed by 2004 following numerous Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) operations in the region. In contrast, Hamas retained a forceful presence in the Gaza Strip , generally considered its stronghold. The group is currently headed by Marwan Issa . Yahya Sinwar , Hamas political leader in the Gaza Strip since February 2017, is a military leader in the Brigades in Gaza . Graham Usher, 21 August 2005 "Hamas leader condemns Islamist charity blacklist" . A history of the modern Middle East .

Military wing of the Palestinian Hamas organization The Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades ( ; also spelt Izzedine or Ezzedeen Al-Qassam Brigades ; often shortened to Al-Qassam Brigades , IQB or EQB ), named after Izz ad-Din al-Qassam , is the military wing of the Palestinian organization Hamas . Currently led by Mohammed Deif and his deputy, Marwan Issa , IQB is the largest and best-equipped group operating within Gaza today. Created in mid-1991, it was at the time concerned with blocking the Oslo Accords negotiations. From 1994 to 2000, the Al-Qassam Brigades has claimed responsibility for carrying out a number of attacks against Israelis . At the beginning of the Second Intifada , the group became a central target of Israel . The group's strength and its ability to carry out complex and lethal attacks surprised many observers. The Al-Qassam Brigades operated several cells in the West Bank , but most of them were destroyed by 2004 following numerous operations of the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) in the region. In contrast, Hamas retained a forceful presence in the Gaza Strip , generally considered its stronghold. Yahya Sinwar , Hamas political leader in the Gaza Strip since February 2017, is a military leader in the Brigades in Gaza. The Al-Qassam Brigades are explicitly listed as a terrorist organization by the European Union , Australia , New Zealand , Egypt , and the United Kingdom . Though not explicitly mentioning IQB, the United States and Canada have designated its parent entity, Hamas, as a terrorist organization; Brigade leader Mohammed Deif has also been classified as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist by the US under Executive Order 13224 . Graham Usher, 21 August 2005 "Hamas leader condemns Islamist charity blacklist" . (in French) Christian Chesnot, Michel Goya : "Militairement, le Hamas monte en gamme depuis 2010" , France Culture , 18 May 2021. "Exclusive: Hamas Official Discusses Decline of Iranian Support" . موقع الدكتور عدنان ابو عامر . "On Sanctioning of Four Financial Facilitators for Hamas - United States Department of State" . " Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades (IQB) – Hamas ." Mapping Palestinian Politics . European Council on Foreign Relations . A history of the modern Middle East . The Middle East Quarterly . "La branche armée du Hamas palestinien déclarée "terroriste" en Egypte" . rts.ch . 31 January 2015. United States Department of State . " Al-Qassam Brigades | Database ." Jihad Intel . United States Department of State .

Military wing of Hamas Al-Qassam Brigades , also known as the Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades ( EQB ; Arabic : كتائب الشهيد عز الدين القسام , romanized : Katāʾib al-shahīd ʿIzz al-Dīn al-Qassām , lit. ' Battalions of martyr Izz ad-Din al-Qassam ' ), are the military wing of the Palestinian nationalist Sunni Islamist organization Hamas . Led by Mohammed Deif until his death on 13 July 2024 , Al-Qassam Brigades are the largest and best-equipped militant organization operating within the Gaza Strip in recent years. Created in mid-1991, they were at the time concerned with blocking the Oslo Accords negotiations. From 1994 to 2000, Al-Qassam Brigades have claimed responsibility for carrying out a number of attacks against Israelis . At the beginning of the Second Intifada , the group became a central target of Israel . Al-Qassam Brigades operated several cells in the West Bank . Hamas retained a forceful presence in the Gaza Strip, generally considered its stronghold. Yahya Sinwar , Hamas political leader in the Gaza Strip from February 2017 to October 2024, was the main military leader in the Brigades in Gaza during the Gaza war . After his killing , Sinwar was succeeded by his brother Mohammed . Mohammed was assassinated in May 2025 and is widely believed to have been succeeded by Izz al-Din al-Haddad . Al-Qassam Brigades are explicitly listed as a terrorist organization by the European Union , Australia , New Zealand , Egypt , and the United Kingdom . Though not explicitly mentioning EQB, the United States and Canada have designated its parent entity, Hamas, as a terrorist organization; former Brigade leader Mohammed Deif was classified as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist by the US under Executive Order 13224 . The Palestinian Hamas: vision, violence, and coexistence ; [with a new introduction] . The Wall Street Journal . From Islamic Jihad to Marxist militants" . "Exclusive: Hamas Official Discusses Decline of Iranian Support" . موقع الدكتور عدنان ابو عامر . "NATO, Gaza, and the future of US-Turkish relations" . 5 February 2024. "Iran's 'axis of resistance': how Hamas and Tehran are attempting to galvanise their allies against Israel" . The Times of Israel . The Times of Israel . " "How did Hamas's military expertise end up with Syria's rebels?" " . "Houthis, Hamas merge diplomacy around prisoner releases – Al-Monitor: Independent, trusted coverage of the Middle East" . "Hamas awards 'Shield of Honor' to Houthi representative in Yemen, sparking outrage in Saudi Arabia" . "How the US became Israel's closest ally" . 13 October 2023. "Hamas arrests Salafi sheikh over alleged Islamic State ties – Radical cleric Adnan Khader Mayat detained on Sunday by Gaza security forces" . "Opinion: The role of Hamas and Fatah rivalry in latest violence in the Israel-Palestine conflict" . 13 May 2021. European Council on Foreign Relations . Hamas's military wing the Al-Qassam Brigades said Thursday that its fighters targeted several Israeli military vehicles across the Gaza Strip "Al-Qassam Brigades pledge allegiance to new Hamas' political chief Yahya Sinwar" . The Al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Palestinian group Hamas, said Saturday that they ambushed Israeli forces in the southern Gaza Strip. Al Jazeera English . 26 October 2023 . Hamas established its military unit, the Qassam Brigades, in 1992 to support its objective of armed resistance against Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories. The name is inspired by Syrian freedom fighter Ezzedine al-Qassam, who struggled against European colonisers in the Levant. After he was expelled to Palestine by the French colonialists, he took up the Palestinian cause, calling for armed resistance "About Us" . A history of the modern Middle East . The Middle East Quarterly . Implementing Article 2(3) of Regulation (EC) No 2580/2001 on specific restrictive measures directed against certain persons and entities with a view to combating terrorism and repealing Decision 2005/848/EC (Council Decision). "La branche armée du Hamas palestinien déclarée "terroriste" en Egypte" . rts.ch . 31 January 2015. United States Department of State . United States Department of State . There are <ref group=lower-alpha> tags or templates on this page, but the references will not show without a template or template (see the help page ). There are <ref group=note> tags on this page, but the references will not show without a template (see the help page ).