Al-Qassam Brigades

Al-Qassam Brigades
Al-Qassam Brigades
كتائب الشهيد عز الدين القسام
	Emblem used by Al-Qassam Brigades
Commander	Izz al-Din al-Haddad
Deputy Commander	Vacant
Spokesman	Abu Obaida
Dates of operation	1991–present
Headquarters	Gaza Strip
Active regions	Palestine; Israel; Lebanon
Ideology	Palestinian nationalism; Palestinian self-determination; Sunni Islamism; Islamic fundamentalism; Anti-Zionism
Status	Active
Size	25,000–30,000+ (est.)
Part of	Hamas; Palestinian Joint Operations Room
Allies	List of allies State allies: Iran; North Korea (alleged, denied by North Korea); Qatar; Russia (alleged); Turkey (AKP government); Former: Ba'athist Syria; (until 2011, again from 2022 – 2024); Egypt (2011–2013); Sudan (until 2019); Non-state allies: Abu Ali Mustafa Brigades; Al-Quds Brigades; Al-Nasser Salah al-Deen Brigades; Lions' Den; National Resistance Brigades; Free Syrian Army (2011–2022); Hezbollah (until 2012, again from 2022); Houthis (since 2021); Wagner Group (alleged); ;
Opponents	List of opponents State opponents: Israel; Palestinian Authority; Egypt; United Arab Emirates; United States; Non-state opponents: Islamic State; Fatah; ;
Battles and wars	List of engagements Arab–Israeli conflict Israeli–Palestinian conflict First Intifada; Second Intifada; 2006 Gaza–Israel conflict; Gaza War (2008–2009); 2012 Gaza War; 2014 Gaza War; 2021 Israel–Palestine crisis; Gaza war October 7 Hamas-led attack on Israel; Israeli invasion of the Gaza Strip; Israeli incursions in the West Bank; ; ; Israeli–Lebanese conflict Israel–Hezbollah conflict (2023–2024); Israeli invasion of Lebanon; ; ; Inter-Palestinian conflicts Salafi-jihadist insurgency in the Gaza Strip; Fatah–Hamas conflict Battle of Gaza (2007); ; West Bank insurgency (2022–present); ; ;
Designated as a terrorist group by	Argentina; Australia; Canada; Egypt; European Union; Israel; Japan; New Zealand; Paraguay; United Kingdom; United States;
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Website	www.alqassam.ps

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.

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.