The National Resistance Brigades (Arabic: كتائب المقاومة الوطنية, romanized: Katāʼib al-Muqāwamah al-Waṭanīyah), also known as Martyr Omar Al-Qassem Forces or Martyr Omar Al-Qasim Forces,[3] are the military wing of the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine, which operates in Gaza[4] and conducts guerilla warfare.[5] Abu Khaled is one of its commanders.[6]
| National Resistance Brigades كتائب المقاومة الوطنية | |
|---|---|
| Also known as | Omar Al-Qasim Brigades |
| Founding leader | Nayef Hawatmeh |
| Leaders | Abu Khaled |
| Foundation | 1969 |
| Dates of operation | 1969-present |
| Country | Palestine |
| Allegiance |  Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine |
| Motives | Establishing an independent secular, and Maoist Palestinian state with the pre-1967 borders |
| Headquarters | Gaza Strip |
| Ideology | |
| Status | Active |
| Allies | State allies:  Iran Syria Non-state allies:  Al-Qassam Brigades Al-Quds Brigades Abu Ali Mustafa Brigades Hezbollah Jihad Jibril Brigades |
| Opponents |  Israel |
| Battles and wars | First Intifada Second Intifada 2023 Israel–Hamas war |
History edit
It was formed in 1969[7] but it was established in late September 2000.[clarification needed][8] The group was initially known as the Red Star Brigades, before being renamed the Palestinian National Resistance Battalions during the Second Intifada.[9] They remain committed to a non-intervention policy in the domestic affairs of any Arab country.[10]
In August 2001, Palestinian security forces Amin Abu Hatab, aged 26, and Hisham Abu Jamus, aged 24, carried out an attack on an Israeli army base.[11] They killed three Israeli soldiers.[12] In 2005 they reorganized before the Israeli disengagement from Gaza and took part in firing rockets and mortars against Israeli areas inside Gaza's borders.[13]
In October 2007, they signed an agreement with other Palestinian factions, including Fatah's al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades, and between 2010 and 2011 they carried out attacks with the Palestinian Islamic Jihad.[9] On 26 September they shelled Sderot with the al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades, which they said was a response to Israeli crimes against Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza.[14] They took part in the 2014 Gaza War, and their spokesman Abu Khaled reported in an intervew that 25 members of the National Resistance Brigades had been killed, including media officer Youssef Al-Wasifi. He reported that 750 rockets and mortar shells had been fired by the brigades at Israeli settlements, 20 sniper operations had been carried out, and that they had killed at least 8 Israeli soldiers in video-recorded operations.[15] In May 2017 they conducted a joint exercise with the Abdel Qader al-Husseini Brigades at a military training site in the Gaza Strip to display new artillery and missile tactics.[16]
On 30 March 2018, 'Abd al-Qader Mardi and Suliman al-Hawajri, members of the National Resistance Brigades, were killed during the Great Return March but didn't participate in hostilities.[17][18][19] In 2020 they expanded their online presence and they promoted their militant activity on Telegram.[20] In May 2021 they targeted Sufa, in Israel, with rockets.[21]
In February 2023, they announced that they bombed Israeli settlements bordering the Gaza Strip in response to Israeli strikes,[22] and in April they bombed the city of Ashkelon.[citation needed]
Israel-Hamas war edit
The National Resistance Brigades participated in the 2023 Hamas-led attack on Israel against Israeli forces[23] and their troops joined the operation launched by Hamas.[24] On 7 October they claimed to have lost three fighters in combat with the Israel Defense Forces, and on 8 October they were engaged with Israeli forces in Kfar Aza, Be'eri, and Kissufim.[25]
On February 19, 2024, their spokesman Abu Khaled announced that during the attack, the National Resistance Brigades had carried out more than 400 operations, including 100 armed clashes with Israeli forces, targeting 25 vehicles, sniping 5 soldiers, firing 110 rocket salvoes, targeting 160 positions with mortars, and shooting down Israeli drones. He also stated that 37 fighters had been killed during the war, including on October 7th and from airstrikes, and others had been arrested or were missing.[26]
The National Resistance Brigades participated in the battle of Khan Yunis, which ended in an Israeli withdrawal from the city in April 2024.[27]
References edit
- ^ "Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine (DFLP)". irp.fas.org.
- ^ "PFLP, DFLP, PFLP-GC, Palestinian leftists". Council on Foreign Relations.
- ^ DFLP Central Information and Translation (7 August 2022). "A military statement issued by the National Resistance Brigades (Martyr Omar al-Qasim Forces) mourns its martyred fighter, Hassan Muhammad Mansour". Group 194. Retrieved 12 October 2023.
- ^ "National Resistance Brigades – DFLP". European Council on Foreign Relations. 21 March 2018. Retrieved 12 October 2023.
- ^ "Infographic: Military Branches of the Palestinian Resistance". Islamic World News. 18 May 2021. Retrieved 12 October 2023.
- ^ Strickland, Patrick (4 February 2015). "No room for IS". Deutsche Welle. Retrieved 12 October 2023.
- ^ Strickland, Patrick O. (24 March 2015). "Gaza's armed groups gear up for next fight with Israel". Middle East Eye. Retrieved 12 October 2023.
- ^ Charif, Maher. "The Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine – DFLP". Interactive Encyclopedia of the Palestine Question. Retrieved 12 October 2023.
- ^ a b Durns, Sean (12 April 2019). "Backgrounder: Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine". Committee for Accuracy in Middle East Reporting in America. Retrieved 12 October 2023.
- ^ "DFLP brigades 'disappointed' by Hamas stance at march". Islam Times. 8 September 2013. Retrieved 12 October 2023.
- ^ "Radical Palestinian Group Previously Had Kept Low Profile in Clashes". VOA News. 27 October 2009. Retrieved 12 October 2023.
- ^ "DFLP chief vows more attacks against Israel". Gulf News. 27 August 2001. Retrieved 12 October 2023.
- ^ "A who's who of fighters in Gaza – IRIN news article". United Nations. 15 April 2013. Retrieved 12 October 2023.
- ^ "Palestinian resistance factions continue to shell Sdirot". Kuwait News Agency. 26 September 2007. Retrieved 12 October 2023.
- ^ Palestinian resistance factions confirm their unity in the face of the occupation, retrieved 8 April 2024
- ^ Staff (7 May 2017). "Palestinian resistance brigades conduct joint military exercise in Gaza". Middle East Observer. Retrieved 12 October 2023.
- ^ "Palestinian minors killed by Israeli security forces in the Gaza Strip, since Operation Cast Lead". Btselem. Archived from the original on 4 August 2023. Retrieved 12 October 2023.
- ^ ""الديمقراطية" تشيّع جثمان الشهيد عبد القادر الحواجري". Palsawa (in Arabic). 31 March 2018. Retrieved 12 October 2023.
- ^ Halevi, Jonathan D. (17 December 2018). "Toronto Group Prays for Palestinian Terrorists". Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs. Retrieved 12 October 2023.
- ^ Truzman, Joe (14 January 2020). "The DFLP and the Resistance Brigades promote militant activity on Telegram". Long War Journal. Retrieved 12 October 2023.
- ^ "Palestinian National Resistance Brigades announces targeting Israeli Soufa post with a barrage of rockets in retaliation to Israeli aggression". Al Manar TV. 18 May 2021. Retrieved 12 October 2023.
- ^ Al-Shaer, Hani (2 February 2023). "Israeli army strikes Palestinian factions' sites in Gaza". aa.com.tr. Retrieved 12 October 2023.
- ^ الانترنت, الحرية-مجلة التقدميين العرب على. ""abu khalid" alnaatiq aleaskariu likatayib almuqawamat alwatania (quaat alshahid eumar alqasuma) aljanah aleaskarii liljabhat aldiymuqratiat litahrir filastin" "أبو خالد" الناطق العسكري لكتائب المقاومة الوطنية (قوات الشهيد عمر القاسم) الجناح العسكري للجبهة الديمقراطية لتحرير فلسطين [“Abu Khaled,” the military spokesman for the National Resistance Brigades (Forces of the Martyr Omar Al-Qasim), the military wing of the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine] (in Arabic). مجلة التقدميين العرب على الانترنت. Archived from the original on 8 October 2023. Retrieved 8 October 2023.
- ^ "Palestinian militias back Hamas against Israel". Prensa Latina. 7 October 2023. Retrieved 12 October 2023.
- ^ الانترنت, الحرية-مجلة التقدميين العرب على. "khilal bayan laha qabl qalilin.. katayib almuqawamat alwatania (quaat alshahid eumar alqasuma) aljanah aleaskarii liljabhat aldiymuqratia" خلال بيان لها قبل قليل.. كتائب المقاومة الوطنية (قوات الشهيد عمر القاسم) الجناح العسكري للجبهة الديمقراطية [During a statement a short while ago...the National Resistance Brigades (Forces of the Martyr Omar Al-Qasim), the military wing of the Democratic Front] (in Arabic). مجلة التقدميين العرب على الانترنت. Archived from the original on 8 October 2023. Retrieved 8 October 2023.
- ^ الانترنت, الحرية-مجلة التقدميين العرب على. "الناطق العسكري أبو خالد، المتحدث بإسم «قوات الشهيد عمر القاسم»: نفذ مقاتلونا خلال معركة طوفان الأقصى مايزيد عن (400) مهمة عسكرية وشملت". مجلة التقدميين العرب على الانترنت. Retrieved 20 February 2024.
- ^ "IRAN UPDATE, FEBRUARY 19, 2024". Institute for the Study of War. Retrieved 8 March 2024.
The Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine... detonated an unspecified explosive device and fired a rocket-propelled grenade targeting Israeli armor near Nasser Hospital.