National Resistance Brigades
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, founded and then led by Nayef Hawatmeh, which operates in Gaza[4] and launches many guerilla warfare.[5] Abu Khaled is one of its commanders.[6]
National Resistance Brigades | |
---|---|
كتائب المقاومة الوطنية | |
Founding leader | Nayef Hawatmeh |
Leaders | Abu Khaled |
Foundation | 1969 |
Country | Palestine |
Headquarters | Gaza Strip |
Ideology | |
Part of | Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine |
Battles and wars | Second Intifada 2023 Israel–Hamas war |
It was formed in 1969[7] but it was established in late September 2000.[8] It was initially called Red Star Brigades, and then it was renamed as Palestinian National Resistance Battalions during the Second Intifada.[9] They remains 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 terror 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] It was the same reason for the bombings of Israeli towns around Gaza 13 February 2023.[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 Soufa, in Israel, with rockets.[21]
In February 2023, they announced that they bombed Israeli settlements bordering the Gaza Strip in revenge of their strikes,[22] and on April they bombed the city of Asqalan. They participated in the 2023 Israel–Hamas war against Israel forces[23][24] and their troops joined the operation launched by Hamas.[25] 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.[26][27]
References
- "Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine (DFLP)". irp.fas.org.
- https://www.cfr.org/backgrounder/pflp-dflp-pflp-gc-palestinian-leftists
- 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. 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.
- 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.
- "Resistance claims responsibility for shelling Zionist settlements". Yemen News Agency. 12 February 2023. Retrieved 12 October 2023.
- 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.
- "National Resistance Brigades: Our fighters are still in multiple areas inside our 48 territories and are engaged in violent confrontations with enemy forces". Al Mayadeen. 10 October 2023. Retrieved 12 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.
- "Al-Qassam fighters engage IOF on seven fronts outside Gaza: Statement". Al Mayadeen English. 8 October 2023. Archived from the original on 8 October 2023. Retrieved 8 October 2023.