Ali Baraka

Ali Baraka is a senior Hamas official based in Beirut, Lebanon, who as the militant group's head of external relations oversees the group's foreign relations.[1] He was previously the Hamas representative in Lebanon since 2011.[2][3]

In Lebanon, Baraka was responsible for Hamas's relations with Hezbollah and Iran. Amid allegations that Hamas was supporting Syrian rebels in the Syrian Civil War, Hezbollah ordered Baraka leave Lebanon. However, Baraka intended to remain in Lebanon.[4] In 2016, Baraka met with an Iranian delegation at the Iranian embassy in Beirut to discuss Hamas-Iranian relations. According to the Palestine Chronicle, Iran has provided funding to Hamas.[5]

After Hamas attacked Israel on October 7, 2023, Baraka claimed that the group had been planning the operation for 2 years.[6] Baraka told Reuters that Hamas had long relied on money and training from Iran and Iranian regional proxies while Hamas was building its capabilities in Gaza.[7]

References
  1. Khalid, Tuqa (2023-10-15). "Russia can play crucial role in settling conflict with Israel: Hamas official". Al-Arabiya. Retrieved 25 October 2023.
  2. "Israeli Troops Fire as Marchers Breach Borders". New York Times. 2011-05-15. Retrieved 25 October 2023.
  3. "Hamas leader in Lebanon to meet Palestinian factions". Al Jazeera. 2020-09-02. Retrieved 24 October 2023.
  4. Winer, Stuart (2013-05-03). "Hamas denies Hezbollah booting it out of Lebanon". Times of Israel. Retrieved 25 October 2023.
  5. "Hamas Representative Meets with Iranian Officials in Beirut". Palestine Chronicle. 2016-09-02. Retrieved 24 October 2023.
  6. Nakhoul, Samia (2023-10-11). "How a secretive Hamas commander masterminded the attack on Israel". Reuters. Retrieved 25 October 2023.
  7. Nakhoul, Samia (2023-10-13). "How Hamas secretly built a 'mini-army' to fight Israel". Reuters. Retrieved 25 October 2023.
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