“Al-Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigades” – a generic title for the armed squads of Palestinian terrorists presently lively in Judea and Samaria.

Al-Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigades emblem (al-Thabet, August 9, 2022).

Al-Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigades operatives in Ramallah maintain a protest rally for the discharge of Palestinian prisoner Nasser Abu Hamid (one of many AAMB founders) due to the deterioration of his medical situation. As a part of the protest they fired huge portions of dwell ammunition into the air (al-Kawfiya TV, September 10, 2022).

Fatah flags on the funeral held for the three in Nablus (Fatah Twitter account, February 9, 2022).

Fatah summer season campers depart for the camp in Nuwaimeh. The signal reads, “The Ibrahim al-Nabulsi camp,” and the inscription on the headbands reads, “The heroic shaheed Ibrahim al-Nabulsi” (Fb web page of the Shabiba Excessive Faculty Committee of Fatah’s bureau of mobilization and group, August 19, 2022).

A bunch photograph of the campers with senior Fatah figures, with posters of Ibrahim al-Nabulsi within the background (Fb web page of the safety forces, August 20, 2022).

Overview

• Throughout the previous couple of months an rising variety of “brigades” have appeared in Judea and Samaria, military-terrorist networks calling themselves al-Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigades (AAMB). They assault the Israeli safety forces and civilians in Judea, Samaria and inside Israeli territory.
• Though the AAMB are often affiliated with Fatah, at this time it’s the generic title for armed squads of Palestinian terrorists, most of which function independently and have neither a central management nor a longtime structural hierarchy.
• The operatives haven’t any political affiliation and most of them are younger and dwell within the refugee camps in Jenin and Nablus, a few of them with connections to the Palestinian Authority (PA) and Fatah. A few of them are high-ranking officers within the PA’s safety forces, some haven’t any clear political affiliation, and a few are operatives of the Palestinian safety forces who haven’t any organizational affiliation. They see themselves as “redeeming” the PA from its safety coordination with Israel. Armed and skilled, they’re able to successfully finishing up terrorist assaults and provoking others.
• Fatah and the PA are ambivalent, publicly claiming to advertise the so-called “unarmed common resistance,” whereas the AAMB publicly promote armed “resistance” [terrorist attacks] and a “army choice.”
• To know the connection between Fatah and the AAMB, a distinction must be made between “official” Fatah, which is all the time conflicted due to the necessity show “resistance” actions whereas violating the bottom guidelines agreed on with Israel, and Fatah operatives or safety pressure operatives who ignore the official dedication. That duality is mirrored within the inconsistent, various statements concerning the AAMB made by members of the Fatah motion. Some often specific reservations, and others publicly assist, establish with and reward the armed “resistance,” whereas native Fatah branches assist and overtly help it (al-Jazeera, August 9, 2022).
• The duality of the PA’s method can be mirrored in the best way it responds to terrorist assaults for which the AAMB declare accountability. Publicly, a number of the senior PA figures condemn the assaults, primarily these carried out inside Israel territory, however typically reward those that carry them out and signify them as position fashions and heroes who sacrifice their lives for the sake of the Palestinian individuals. The PA additionally points mourning notices for them and senior Palestinian figures attend their funerals and go to the mourning tents to supply condolences. Within the case of Ibrahim al-Nabulsi, AAMB chief in Nablus, Fatah even named its summer season camps after him.
• The expansion of AAMB exercise, which has considerably elevated terrorist exercise within the PA territories, can be linked to the weakening of the PA and its safety forces’ management over occasions on the bottom, particularly in Jenin and Nablus.
• On account of the AAMB’s distinguished assaults and the boldness of their operatives, they’ve grow to be iconic position fashions for younger Palestinians. Their standing has not too long ago risen vis-à-vis the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) and Hamas in Judea and Samaria, which till the renewed AAMB appeared, took credit score for the “armed resistance” [terrorist attacks] in opposition to Israel in Judea, Samaria and east Jerusalem. Based on political commentator Abd a-Mahdi Matawa, in a method or one other, the “resistance” depends on Fatah and the PA management, and that’s the variable which worries Israel essentially the most (Hafriya web site, October 1, 2022).

Al-Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigades

Resurgence of actions

• In current months, particularly within the north of Judea and Samaria, there was a rise in armed assaults in opposition to the Israeli safety forces. The forces perform a wide range of counterterrorism actions and have efficiently prevented assaults. To a sure extent the assaults have been initiated by the PIJ – its Jenin Battalion, for instance^[1] – which sought to reorganize the “resistance” in Judea and Samaria. Hamas, one in every of whose everlasting targets is to fan the flames as a lot as potential in Judea, Samaria and Jerusalem, can be taking part and establishing its personal armed military-terrorist teams. The overall unrest has been exacerbated by the presence of different armed teams, together with the AAMB, whose official reference to Fatah is unclear and confused.
• Operations of the renewed AAMB started throughout Operation Guardian of the Partitions in Could 2021. For the primary time in years, its operatives marched by means of the streets of Ramallah, firing their weapons within the air, and introduced that after a protracted hiatus they have been returning to motion (al-Mayadeen, Could 17, 2022).
• Muneir al-Jaghob, head of the Tanzim’s media unit, mentioned the AAMB’s return to armed actions has not been organized. He claimed that the Palestinians’ present state of affairs, with the negation of their rights, “persecution” and killing, together with the enlargement of the settlements, lit a spark of “battle” and “resistance” amongst figures within the Fatah motion. They discovered it appropriate to be used as an organizational and common framework, after it had been restricted and unable to “act” due to the PA’s safety commitments. He added that the AAMB belonged to a youthful era which had not participated within the intifadas. For instance he gave Ibrahim al-Nabulsi, the son a of lieutenant colonel within the Palestinian preventive safety forces. Al-Nabulsi had no private data of the intifadas however had probably heard from his father tales of his detention and the “tortures” he [allegedly] underwent in Israeli prisons, and ultimately selected the “path of confrontation” (aljazeera.internet, August 9, 2022).

    
Proper: Al-Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigades press convention in Nablus (Shafa, August 18, 2022). Left: Al-Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigades operatives in Nablus (qudsnet.com, February 10, 2022).

AAMB construction

• Folks typically relate to the AAMB as Fatah’s military-terrorist wing, it’s not one of many motion’s official establishments, and versus Hamas’ Izz al-Din Qassam Brigades and the PIJ’s Jerusalem Brigades, shouldn’t be a proper, hierarchical army group. Jamal Hawil, a member of Fatah’s Revolutionary Council,^[2] mentioned in an interview that the AAMB was not a hierarchical group headed by a army commander and had by no means had an organizational construction just like the army wings of the opposite Palestinian organizations. Since, he added, Fatah had by no means formally determined to ascertain the AAMB and it was not talked about within the motion’s constitution, it was unimaginable to debate its dismemberment. The AAMB existed because the initiative of loyal younger Fatah operatives defending the Palestinian individuals. He mentioned each district was an unbiased enviornment with squads within the cities, refugee camps and villages. Each squad or each squad operative determined what motion to hold out. He added that adopting the thought of “armed resistance” had been the operatives’ personal thought and had not been directed by anybody particular person. Somewhat, the operatives themselves deliberate, funded and acted, utilizing their very own modest assets and potentialities (al-Akhbar, August 11, 2022).

• Muneir al-Jaghob claimed the AAMB was a gaggle of younger Palestinians with related targets who collaborated with each other. He claimed their “armed exercise” was not organized and so they acquired no recompense. He additionally acknowledged that amongst them have been former operatives of the Palestinian safety forces who had “returned, of their very own accord, to ‘resist’ the occupation” (aljazeera.internet, August 9, 2022).
• Extra might be discovered concerning the AAMB from the al-Quds web site after the taking pictures assault on the Jalameh Roadblock wherein an IDF officer was killed. Based on the web site, although the AAMB claimed accountability and issued a video the place they have been seen carrying masks, they belonged to a brand new era of Palestinians whose modus operandi was completely different from the previous, they didn’t essentially affiliate themselves with any specific group, solely with the thought of “resistance” [wiping Israel off the map”] (Quds, September 14, 2022).
• Based mostly on the foregoing and on the documentation of AAMB exercise in Judea and Samaria, it may be asserted that a lot of the teams are native, haven’t any organizational hierarchy or central management, and perform their assaults independently. They’re composed of various operatives, together with Fatah operatives from numerous generations, however principally they’re younger, some the sons of PA safety pressure operatives. Based on Muneir al-Jaghob, most of them have widespread pursuits which introduced them collectively, and so they started coordinating their actions, paying their very own method. A supply from inside Fatah, who insisted on anonymity, added that a number of the district branches of the Fatah motion present direct assist for the AAMB (aljazeera.internet, August 9, 2022).
• Thus, it may be assumed that the identification of the teams relies extra on locality than group. Even when a political dimension exists, the management on the bottom is native and their actions range from sector to sector and rely upon present situations and circumstances. Nevertheless, now and again a hyperlink might be discerned between the teams and Fatah, generally in numerous bulletins issued by the AAMB or in mourning notices for shaheeds issued by Fatah.
• The imprecise organizational affiliation of the teams can be mirrored bodily. They don’t establish themselves with the identical exterior markers. The yellow that characterizes Fatah shouldn’t be all the time current. Some put on yellow headbands and others, resembling operatives of the Lion’s Den community, don’t establish themselves as belonging to any established group their headbands are white.
• Though claiming that the actions of the AAMB are with out momentum and inferior to these of the second intifada, Jamal Hawil associated positively to the assaults carried out by Raad Hazem (the taking pictures assault on Dizengoff Road in Tel Aviv on April 7, 2022) and Dia Hamarsheh (the taking pictures assault in Bnei Brak on March 20, 2022). He mentioned the 2 – like commander Daoud Zubeidi, brother of squad commander Zakaria Zubeidi who was killed on the age of 43 in Jenin – fought and sacrificed themselves. He claimed that was “proof” the AAMB did have momentum and was essentially the most distinguished presence in Judea and Samaria. He additionally famous that Ibrahim al-Nabulsi, who turned an icon, and his AAMB comrades had directed the riots in Nablus, together with some fighters from different organizations (al-Akhbar, August 11, 2022).

Funding and assist

• The media typically declare that the operatives fund their actions themselves and purchase their very own weapons. Nevertheless, an nameless supply in Fatah revealed that a number of Fatah branches in numerous districts in Judea and Samaria present direct assist for the AAMB. As well as, Salman Basharat, a political commentator and head of a analysis institute, mentioned there have been individuals in Fatah who have been serving to them as a result of they believed that armed motion was justified, but it surely was not linked to the Fatah motion (al-Jazeera, August 9, 2022).
• Jamal Hawil additionally mentioned it was the operatives who deliberate, funded and carried out the “actions” with modest assist from their organizations (al-Akhbar, August 11, 2022). He added that the AAMB in Judea and Samaria had far much less ammunition and their operatives have been much less well-trained than the AAMB operatives within the Gaza Strip (al-Akhbar, August 11, 2022).

Ibrahim al-Nabulsi, chief and position mannequin

•  Ibrahim Alaa al-Nabulsi was born in Nablus on October 13, 2003. He father, Alaa Izzat al-Nabulsi, is a launched prisoner who spent numerous years incarcerated in Israel. After his launch he served within the PA preventive forces with the rank of lieutenant colonel. Each a maternal and paternal uncle are launched prisoners. As of 2020 al-Nabulsi was needed by each Israel and the Palestinian safety forces. Together with different operatives, he established the Nablus Battalion, just like the Jenin Battalion. Through the months earlier than his dying he carried out a collection of taking pictures assaults, together with taking pictures at Jewish worshippers who got here to hope on the Tomb of Joseph in Nablus. He turned an emblem for Palestinian youth and plenty of have been influenced by the movies he and his comrades uploaded to the Palestinian social networks, a few of them documenting taking pictures at Israeli safety forces.

• On August 9, 2022, Israeli safety forces operated in Nablus and surrounded the home the place Ibrahim al-Nabulsi, Islam Sabbouh and Hussein Jamal Taha have been hiding on the fourth flooring. They refused to give up and exchanged fireplace for 3 hours with IDF forces, who needed to deal native riots on the similar time. The IDF forces lastly fired an RPG on the fourth flooring, killing al-Nabulsi and the others (IDF spokesman’s Twitter account, August 9, 2022; al-Jazeera, August 10, 2022).
•  The AAMB issued a mourning discover for Ibrahim al-Nabulsi (Abu Fathi), calling him an necessary commander in Nablus, and his comrades Islam Sabbouh, 25 years outdated, and Hussein Jamal Taha, 16 years outdated (al-Kawfiya TV, August 9, 2022). The Palestinian media reported al-Nabulsi as having been an operative within the recently-founded Nablus Battalion, described as an alliance of armed native Palestinians who have been affiliated with the army wings of varied organizations, together with Hamas and the PIJ (al-Jazeera, August 10, 2022). The Fatah department within the Nablus district additionally issued a mourning discover for al-Nabulsi.

Relations and hyperlinks with Fatah

• The AAMB shouldn’t be formally a part of the Fatah motion, though it’s typically known as “Fatah’s army wing.” Apparently Fatah’s assist and solidarity are associated to the broader and extra vital situation of the legitimacy or lack thereof of the “armed battle.” In lots of respects, Fatah is confronted with a dilemma. On the one hand, its acknowledged public place is that it helps a “common non-violent resistance”^[3] and customarily publicly dissociates itself from the AAMB’s unbiased armed actions. The PA safety forces generally even persecute AAMB operatives as a result of their unbiased actions emphasize the PA’s weak point and the safety vacuum in numerous areas, particularly northern Samaria. However, Fatah’s web sites and social media are sometimes used to glorify the AAMB, generally hinting they do in reality belong to the motion. That often occurs when Fatah apparently desires to realize public sympathy and assist and show it has not deserted the “resistance,” particularly since Hamas and the PIJ criticize it and snap at its heels.
• Thus some AAMB squads are affiliated with Fatah and others should not, and should not dedicated to Fatah or the PA and its insurance policies, and subsequently function with out bearing in mind its official political line and safety limitations. As well as, they generally criticize Fatah and the PA, act independently and assist “resistance” and “armed battle.”
• Jamal Hawil categorically rejected the concept Fatah didn’t acknowledge the AAMB, declaring that when “operations” [terrorist attacks] have been carried out and the AAMB claimed accountability, the members of Fatah’s Central Committee praised the shaheeds and infrequently went to the mourning tents to supply condolences. He added that was accomplished “taking into consideration apparent political issues.” Nevertheless, he claimed that Fatah motion members adopted the thought of “armed resistance” individually and with out particular path. Somewhat they themselves deliberate, funded, made preparations and carried out the “actions” utilizing no matter means, nonetheless easy, that they had at their disposal (al-Akhbar, August 11, 2022). Political commentator Suleiman Basharat mentioned the Fatah motion was composed of teams which have been organizationally loyal to varied public figures. Some, due to political ambition or expediency, made a present of supporting the “armed teams,” however there have been others who supported them due to perception within the “battle,” none of which had any relation to the core of the Fatah motion (aljazeera.internet, August 9, 2022).

• Regardless of their ambivalence, the heads of Fatah and the PA have typically confirmed reverence for the AAMB shaheeds. For instance, when on February 8, 2022, three AAMB operatives have been killed in Nablus, the reactions of senior PA and Fatah figures have been distinctive with respect to each quantity and content material, accusing Israel of killing them and declaring them heroes of the Palestinian individuals. Mahmoud Abbas was significantly outspoken in a phone dialog with the individuals who had come to the mourning tent. The tent was visited by PA Prime Minister Muhammad Shtayyeh and different senior PA figures, who got here to supply condolences. As well as, many senior PA and Fatah figures, together with Mahmoud Abbas, posted photos of the three to the Palestinian social media in a method that indicated they have been motion operatives. The secretary of the Fatah department in Nablus declared a day of mourning for the town and inspired Fatah operatives to conflict with the Israeli safety forces. Apparently such sturdy reactions mirrored the trend on the killings and embarrassed the PA, carried out as they have been within the coronary heart of Nablus in broad daylight. They trigger the PA to be involved over one other blow to its standing, given the frequently-heard criticism of its collaboration with Israel. On the funeral in Nablus held for the three, Fatah flags have been extensively in proof (as have been Hamas flags, which have been eliminated by operatives of the PA’s safety forces).^[4]

    
Proper: Mourning discover issued by Fatah for Muhammad Abdallah al-Saher Hamed (BinNassema@ Twitter account, June 25, 2022). Left: Mourning discover issued by the AAMB in Nablus (proper to left, Ashraf an-Mabrouk, Adhem al-Mabrouk and Muhammad al-Dakheil (Ma’an, February 8, 2022).

• Fatah’s “adoption” of the shaheeds can be evident in its naming summer season camps after Ibrahim al-Nabulsi.

   
Fatah summer season campers depart for the camp in Nuwaimeh. The signal reads, “The Ibrahim al-Nabulsi camp,” and the inscription on the headbands reads, “The heroic shaheed Ibrahim al-Nabulsi” (Fb web page of the Shabiba Excessive Faculty Committee of Fatah’s bureau of mobilization and group, August 19, 2022).

Relations with different organizations

• To a sure extent, the AAMB has relations with Hamas and PIJ operatives in Jenin, Nablus and different areas in Judea and Samaria, however their actual nature is unclear. The relations are manifested regionally throughout preventing in opposition to Israeli safety forces, for instance, the Jenin Battalion. Based on al-Akhbar, the PIJ supplied Ibrahim al-Nabulsi with ammunition over the past weeks of his life (al-Akhbar, August 11, 2022). Hamas and the PIJ additionally encourage Fatah operatives who assist the armed “resistance” [terrorist attacks] and don’t obey the PA and take part when steps are taken to strengthen the “resistance” [terrorist organizations] in Judea and Samaria, to the PA’s embarrassment. Nevertheless, apparently there is no such thing as a formal framework for collaboration, and joint motion appears to be primarily native.

Hezbollah assist and assist

• In current months Hezbollah’s web sites have coated the occasions in Judea and Samaria every day, emphasizing [Palestinian terrorist] “successes.” The Hezbollah-affiliated every day newspaper al-Akhbar has a nook known as “The [West] Financial institution, the start of an intifada,” for articles and analyses. Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah typically pertains to occasions in Judea and Samaria. For instance, after the dying of Ibrahim al-Nabulsi he despatched condolences to his household, the households of his comrades and to all of the shaheeds (al-Akhbar, August 19, 2022). Hassan Haballah, who holds the “Palestine” portfolio within the Gaza Strip, mentioned they supported the arming of Judea and Samaria, including that it had already begun and was not new. He mentioned it might be carried out in numerous methods, amongst them by means of auxiliary organizations which might switch the “assist” to Judea and Samaria (interview with khamenei.ir, August 21, 2022).
• Hezbollah’s assist for the AAMB at this time can’t be particularly recognized, however up to now it evidently existed. In July 2004 Nasrallah gave a speech wherein he admitted publicly for the primary time that Hezbollah gave the Palestinians assist (al-Manar TV, July 19, 20042). As soon as he had made the admission, native Fatah-AAMB leaders started relating publicly to the assist they acquired from Hezbollah and Iran. On August 2, 2004, Abu Mujahed, a Fatah-AAMB commander from Nablus, mentioned they didn’t conceal the truth that some operatives have been funded and inspired by events, resembling those that acquired funding from Hezbollah and Iran (Ynet, August 3, 2022).
• Concerning assist from Iran, at a gathering with Gush Shalom, the Israeli peace bloc, Yasser Arafat mentioned the AAMB was not a part of Fatah however numerous its operatives known as him their chief. He mentioned they acquired cash from Iran by means of Muneir al-Miqdah, who had left Fatah in Lebanon a number of years beforehand (web site of al-Khalij, the UAE, August 9, 2004). Zakaria Zubeidi, a Fatah-AAMB commander in Jenin, requested by an interviewer concerning the receipt of assist [from Iran], answered that the rumor was unfaithful, however even when it have been proved they did obtain assist, there can be nothing improper as a result of they have been in favor of assist from each “Arab supply [sic]” (Arab.48.com, August 4, 2004).

Al-Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigades within the Gaza Strip

• There are dozens of army teams within the Gaza Strip affiliated with Fatah, and Hamas desires to make the AAMB squads subordinate to its command. In September 2021 the AAMB teams within the Gaza Strip introduced they have been uniting. Based on a Hamas supply, the union was the results of efforts invested by Hamas’ army wing. A unique supply claimed Hamas needed to unite the squads so they might have one single illustration within the terrorist organizations’ joint operations room, and that almost all of them had no hyperlink to the PA. Based on an AAMB operative in Judea and Samaria, Hamas’ inside safety summoned the Fatah squads [to a meeting] the place they have been known as on to unite, in any other case they might be outlawed. They united into three factions: the Ayman Jawda squads (which introduced the renewal of its actions in August 2022), the Salam Thabet Jaish al-‘Asifa squad and the Abd al-Qader al-Husseini squad, which is affiliated with Hezbollah and Iran and has shut relations with Hamas. Based on the supply, a number of the squads agreed to unite and to have one consultant within the joint operations room, and a few refused to be subordinate to Hamas and misplaced their independence (Araby Put up, September 2021).
• In Could 2022 Hamas apparently once more tried to implement its authority on the AAMB by holding an area convention in Jabalia, the place the announcement of the appointment of latest AAMB chief was made. The heads of the AAMB management then denied that the announcement, claiming it had been an area occasion with out illustration from all of the districts and areas. An AAMB spokesman nicknamed Abu Thaer known as the announcement a “conspiracy,” and mentioned Fatah’s army wing, together with all its fighters, have been united underneath the title AAMB and they might settle accounts with these chargeable for their “humiliation.” The AAMB in Jenin issued an analogous announcement, noting that Zakaria Zubeidi was their chief, they weren’t a part of any agenda and the Hamas convention represented solely its organizers (al-Quds, Could 21, 2022).
• At the moment a number of networks function within the Gaza Strip with the title AAMB, essentially the most distinguished of which is the al-Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigades – Nidal al-Amoudi Battalion. Its operatives are followers of ousted Fatah chief Muhammad Dahlan, who helps them. It’s primarily based on former operatives of the Palestinian safety forces which operated within the Gaza Strip earlier than the Hamas takeover in 2007. It’s higher armed and outfitted than the networks in Judea and Samaria and collaborates with the military-terrorist wings of Hamas and the PIJ. It has issued claims of accountability for launching rockets on the Israeli communities close to the Gaza Strip, together with throughout Operation Wave Breaker (August 7 to 9, 2022). In January 2020 it posted a video to its web site of a speech given by Abu Ahmed, who heads the community, at a rally held in Gaza Metropolis to mark the 55^th anniversary of Fatah’s founding. He known as on community operatives all through Judea and Samaria to conflict with Israel. The video additionally confirmed two masked operatives who have been represented as belonging to the community in Judea and Samaria (web site of the al-Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigades – Nidal al-‘Amoudi Battalion spokesman, January 8, 2020).

 
Proper: Al-Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigades – Nidal al-‘Amoudi Battalion launching rockets (YouTube, November 15, 2019). Left: Democratic Entrance for the Liberation of Palestine launching rockets (YouTube channel of the Nationwide Resistance Brigades, November 13, 2022).

• Previously there have been networks whose actions are unknown, as of October 2022. They embody:
  • The al-‘Asifa Forces – Abd al-Qadir al-Husseini Battalions: On November 28, 2019, it was reported that three or 4 terrorist operatives had been wounded in an explosion within the western a part of Beit Lahia within the northern Gaza Strip (al-Quds, November 28, 2019; Ma’an, November 28 and 29, 2019). Based on one report, the explosion occurred at an AAMB publish located close to the al-Khansaa Mosque in Beit Lahia (al-Mushraq News, November 28, 2019). Thaer al-Abd Hamed, 29 years outdated, was wounded and later died (Ma’an, November 29, 2019). Based on posts on the Palestinian social networks from his kinfolk, he was an operative in a community calling itself the al-‘Asifa Forces – Abd al-Qadir al-Husseini Battalions and was killed in a piece accident in the course of the manufacture of weapons (Fb web page of his cousin Muhammad ‘Ashur, November 29, 2019; Fb web page of his cousin Ali Taisir Ellouga, November 29, 2019).

• The al-Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigades – Nabil Masoud Units: In February 2019 a discover was issued by a corporation calling itself the al-Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigades – Nabil Masoud Units asking for donations of digital currencies. The discover gave the addresses of digital wallets the place donations might be made. The Units are one in every of 4 AAMB networks which have been lively within the Gaza Strip and claimed coordination and shut relations with Hamas’ military-terrorist wing.

Appendix A

Examples of al-Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigades actions

• Through the previous 12 months AAMB terrorist networks have carried out numerous assaults Judea, Samaria and inside Israel, and armed squads have clashed with Israeli safety forces, primarily in Nablus and Jenin. For instance:

Capturing assault in Bnei Brak

• On March 29, 2022, a Palestinian armed with an M-16 assault rifle went to the central Israeli metropolis of Bnei Brak driving a car with Israeli license plates, after having entered Israeli territory illegally by means of one of many breaches within the safety fence. He parked the car after which entered and exited an condo home. Subsequent he went to a constructing the place two shops have been situated, and when he noticed they have been empty he went out into the road and shot at a toddler driving a bicycle and a pedestrian, however missed each of them. He walked to a close-by road and shot at home windows after which shot and killed two males standing close to a grocery retailer. He then walked to the tip of the block, turned the nook, shot at a person pushing a child carriage and ran down one other road the place he came across two mounted policemen who had been dispatched to the positioning. Within the subsequent alternate of fireplace one of many policemen and the terrorist have been killed. 5 Israelis have been killed, 4 civilians and one policeman (Israeli media, March 30, 2022).
• The shooter was Dia Hamarsheh. He was born within the village of Ya’dangerous, southwest of Jenin, in 1995. He was detained in 2016 and sentenced to 2 and a half years in jail. His household is affiliated with Fatah, though in keeping with data acquired by al-Jazeera TV, he was imprisoned within the jail’s PIJ wing. Al-Jazeera TV acquired a video exhibiting him carrying a inexperienced Hamas flag whereas taking part in one in every of its actions. Based on the London-based al-Quds al-Arabi, he belonged to Fatah’s military-terrorist wing (al-Quds al-Arabi, March 20, 2022).
• The AAMB issued a mourning discover for the dying of one in every of its operatives. It confirmed an image of the terrorist with an AAMB emblem within the nook. Based on the discover, Israel can solely dream of safety and stability, and of extinguishing the “flame of the resistance” (AAMB Telegram channel, March 30, 2022)

• Mahmoud Abbas “condemned” the assault, apparently bowing to political stress. The wording was weak and imprecise, stating solely that the killing of Israeli and Palestinian civilians [sic] would solely trigger the state of affairs to deteriorate in the course of the “delicate time” of Ramadan and the Jewish and Christian holidays. He additionally warned the settlers to not exploit the occasion to assault Palestinians (Wafa, March 29, 2022). Hamas criticized Mahmoud Abbas for issuing a condemnation. Hamas spokesman Hazem Qassem mentioned it didn’t replicate the opinion of the Palestinian individuals and solely served the Zionist narrative (Shehab, March 29, 2022).
• Versus Mahmoud Abbas, the Fatah motion in Jenin issued a mourning discover eulogizing Dia Hamarsheh, claiming he had bravely defended the rights of the Palestinian individuals. Fatah in Jenin declared a basic strike in Ya’dangerous and a basic alert and mobilization in preparation for the chance that IDF forces would invade (al-Andalou News, March 30, 2022).

Capturing assault on Dizengoff Road, Tel Aviv

• On the night of April 7, 2022, a Palestinian armed with a handgun went to a pub on Dizengoff Road in Tel Aviv and shot at patrons sitting outdoors, killing two and mortally wounding one, who died within the hospital. Six others have been wounded, three of the critically. The terrorist escaped. He was situated the next morning close to a mosque in Jaffa, and killed in an alternate of fireplace with Israeli safety forces.
• The terrorist was Raad Fathi Zidan Hazem, 29 years outdated, from the Jenin refugee camp (Twitter account of photojournalist Hassan Aslih, April 8, 2022). His father was one of many senior figures of the primary intifada, and was wounded and detained by Israel. With the institution of the PA he served as a lieutenant colonel within the Palestinian basic safety forces earlier than he took early retirement. His aunt is married to Bassam al-Sa’adi, a senior PIJ operative in Jenin (aljazeera.internet, April 8, 2022). His father additionally mentioned his son was a pc professional. Just a few hours earlier than he left to hold out the taking pictures assault he ate the fast-breaking meal along with his household (Shehab, April 8, 2022).
• The AAMB issued a mourning discover for him, stating he was an operative of the group. Additionally they known as the assault the “pure response” to “Israel’s crimes” in opposition to the Palestinian individuals, the latest of which had been the killing of a Palestinian in Jenin (AAMB Telegram channel, April 8, 2022). Fatah flags have been hung within the mourning tent erected for him.

Capturing assault in Ariel

• On April 29, 2022, Palestinian terrorists carried out a taking pictures assault on the entrance to Ariel. Two terrorists drove to the guard publish at Ariel’s western entrance, shot and killed a guard and drove away (IDF spokesman, April 29, 2022). Based on the preliminary investigation, the 2 armed Palestinians drove a car with Israeli license plates. After the assault they drove to an open space and torched the car, and have been apparently then pushed to a protected home by accomplices.
• Instantly after the assault an AAMB announcement appeared on the Palestinian social networks claiming accountability. Nevertheless, the announcement was not official. On Could 2, 2022, Hamas military-terrorist wing issued an official declare of accountability.

Pictures fired at Jewish worshippers on the Tomb of Joseph

• On June 30, 2022, whereas Jewish worshippers have been coming into the Tomb of Joseph in Nablus, Palestinians directed heavy fireplace at them, and threw Molotov cocktails and IEDs. Three Israelis have been wounded, two civilians and one member of the Israeli safety forces. The Nablus Battalion claimed accountability for the assault, representing it as revenge for the dying of Muhammad Marai, a Jenin Battalion operative killed on June 29, 2022 (Nablus Battalion Telegram channel, June 30, 2022). The AAMB claimed accountability for the assault, carried out “in response to the crimes of the occupation” and settlers, who continued “attacking Palestinian lands [sic] and the refugee camps” (AAMB Telegram channel, June 30, 2022).

Ambushing and killing an IDF officer

• On the night time of September 13, 2022, two armed Palestinian terrorists opened fireplace at an IDF pressure close to the Jalameh Roadblock north of Jenin, killing an IDF officer. The terrorists have been shot and killed. The 2 had been noticed by IDF surveillance however didn’t look like armed. The AAMB claimed accountability, stating the 2 terrorists have been AAMB operatives, one in every of them a low-ranking operative within the Palestinian safety forces.

Capturing assaults

• On September 19, 2022, Palestinians carried out a drive-by taking pictures at an Israel car close to Hawwara (close to Nablus). No casualties have been reported; the car was broken. Empty shells have been discovered close by. The AAMB claimed accountability (AAMB Telegram channel, September 19, 2022).
• On August 18, 2022, pictures have been fired at an Israeli bus carrying worshippers from the Tomb of Joseph in Nablus. No casualties have been reported; the bus was broken. The AAMB claimed accountability for taking pictures at IDF forces and Jewish guests to the Tomb of Joseph (Nablus Battalion Telegram AAMB Telegram channels, August 18, 2022).
• The Nablus Battalion and the AAMB issued a declare of accountability for pictures fired on the Israeli safety forces in Nablus on August 14, 2022 (Nablus Battalion Telegram AAMB Telegram channels, August 14, 2022).
• On July 5, 2022, pictures have been fired from a passing car at an IDF pressure manning the roadblock on the entrance to the settlement of Homesh (northwest of Nablus). The fighters returned fireplace; no Israeli casualties have been reported. Various empty shells have been discovered on the website (IDF spokesman, July 5, 2022). The AAMB claimed accountability for the assault (Twitter account of Jihad Samir, July 5, 2022). The next day a needed Palestinian suspected of perform the taking pictures assault turned himself in to the Israeli safety forces (IDF spokesman’s Twitter account, July 6, 2022).
•  On September 13, 2022, pictures have been fired at an engineering car finishing up upkeep work on the barrier alongside the border close to Jalameh (north of Jenin) No casualties have been reported; the car was broken (IDF spokesman, September 15, 2022). The AAMB claimed accountability for the assault.

Counterterrorism actions resulting in the apprehension of needed AAMB operatives

•   On February 8, 2022, throughout an Israeli safety pressure exercise in Nablus, three Palestinians terrorist operatives have been killed. The IDF reported they have been AAMB operatives and chargeable for a collection of current taking pictures assaults focusing on IDF forces and civilians; they have been planning to hold out extra assaults. A big amount of weapons was discovered of their car (Israeli media, February 8, 2022). The Palestinian media reported that they have been Ashraf al-Mabslat, Adhem Mabrouk and Muhammad al-Dakheil, all of them AAMB terrorists.

   
Proper: The scene of the assault (Paltoday, February 8, 2022). Left: Mourning discover issued by the AAMB in Nablus for 3 terrorists killed by IDF forces (Ma’an, February 8, 2022).

• On July 24, 2022, Israeli safety forces operated to detain numerous Palestinians who had barricaded themselves in a home within the Kasbah of Nablus. Native residents congregated close to the home, shot on the forces and threw IEDs at them. The forces returned fireplace. The forces who entered the home discovered giant portions of weapons and IEDs (Israel Police Pressure spokesman’s unit, July 24, 2022). The Israeli media reported that one of many needed Palestinians was Ibrahim al-Nabulsi, an AAMB operative, who had managed to flee. He was additionally a goal when terrorist squad was attacked within the heart of Nablus on February 8, 2022, wherein three terrorist operatives have been killed (Israeli Kan 11 TV channel, July 24, 2022).
• The ministry of well being in Ramallah reported that Muhammad Bashar Azizi, 25 years outdated, and Abd al-Rahman Jamal Suliman Sabah (aka Abud Sabah), 28 years outdated, had been killed in Nablus, and that six different Palestinians had been wounded (ministry of well being in Ramallah Fb web page, July 24, 2022). Abd al-Rahman Sabah was the nephew of Anan Sabah, a senior determine within the AAMB in Nablus. He was killed by Israeli safety forces on December 26, 2009 (Fb web page of RjalNablsAlashdalyAlada, July 24, 2022; Wafa, December 26, 2009). The AAMB issued a mourning discover stating the 2 belonged to the AAMB’s Nablus Battalion (AAMB Telegram channel, July 24, 2022).

•  On September 28, 2022, the ministry of well being in Ramallah reported that 4 Palestinians have been killed in a riot within the Jenin refugee camp (ministry of well being in Ramallah web site, September 28, 2022). The AAMB issued a mourning discover for the 4, stating that three of them Abd al-Rahman Fathi Hazem, Ahmed Nazmi al-Awneh and Muhammad Mahmoud al-Waneh have been operatives in a community within the Jenin refugee camp (AAMB Telegram channel, September 28, 2022). The Shaheed Battalion of the AAMB mentioned in an announcement that Abd al-Rahman Hazem was the founding father of the joint operations room within the Jenin refugee camp; Ahmed Nazmi al-Awneh was a commander Within the Shaheed Battalion of the AAMB within the Jenin refugee camp; and Muhammad al-Waneh was an engineer who specialised in making IEDs.

   
Proper: Mourning discover issued by the al-Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigades stating that Hazem, al-Waneh and al-Awneh have been community operatives (al-Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigades Telegram channel, September 28, 2022). Left: Discover issued by the Shaheeds’ Battalion (Twitter account of ‘Alam Fateh, September 28, 2022). The announcement additionally acknowledged that the fourth Muhammad Abu Na’seh was a PIJ commander in Jenin (Twitter account of Alam Fateh, September 28, 2022).

• On September 11, 2022, the ministry of well being in Ramallah introduced that Hamad Mustafa Abu Jalda, 24 years outdated, from the Jenin refugee camp, had died of abdomen wounds incurred on September 6, 2022, in the course of the demolition of Raad Hazem’s home (the Dizengoff Road shooter). Based on the announcement, Abu Jalda belong to the AAMB (Watan, September 11, 2022). The AAMB introduced his dying, stating he was known as Abu Mustafa and that he belonged to the group’s Shaheed Battalion (AAMB Twitter account, September 11, 2022).

    
Proper: AAMB operative Hamad Mustafa Abu Jalda holding an M-16 assault rifle (AAMB Twitter account, September 11, 2022). Left: Mourning discover issued by the AAMB for Hamad Abu Jalda (Masdar News, September 11, 2022).

Appendix B

Al-Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigades milestones

• The al-Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigades is the generic title for armed teams which haven’t any organizational hierarchy, most of that are unbiased and composed of younger Fatah and Palestinian safety pressure operatives. To a sure extent it may be mentioned that every group is exclusive and has its personal management. The milestones within the AAMB’s historical past are the next:
  • The AAMB formally started operations in October 2000, in the course of the first days of the second intifada, as a community of army squads affiliated with Fatah. Initially their exercise was restricted to taking pictures assaults and killing Israeli civilians in Judea and Samaria, and till 2001 they have been the first terrorist community within the PA territories. The killing of senior AAMB determine Ra’ed Karmi in Tulkarm on January 14, 2002, triggered them to extend their exercise and so they started finishing up terrorist assaults inside Israeli. The 12 months 2002 is taken into account their most lively.
  • A number of years later inside disputes led to the looks of native teams is Judea, Samaria and the Gaza Strip with numerous names and their effectiveness was weakened. As well as, the Palestinian safety forces started infiltrating them, one of many indicators of the anarchy that reigned between 2005 and 2007.
  • In 2007 Mahmoud Abbas issued a “presidential” edict for the dismantling of the AAMB. In July 2007, 178 operatives agreed to disarm and switch their weapons over to PA as a part of what was often called “the settlement of the needed [operatives].” That formally ended the group’s existence in Judea and Samaria, contributing to a decline within the stage of terrorism in Judea and Samaria. Throughout 2007 and 2008 the PA carried out safety operations in opposition to them
  • After the official dismantling of the AAMB, operatives established unbiased squads which carried out particular person operations, like Zakaria Zubeidi, a former AAMB commander, a member of Fatah’s Revolutionary Council and a prisoner. AAMB operatives lacked a central command, have been typically persecuted by the Palestinian safety forces and plenty of of them have been detained by the PA.
  • In 2010 an settlement was formulated between the AAMB and Israel by means of the PA, in keeping with which the names of operatives can be crossed off the record of needed terrorists in return for his or her abandoning violence and turning their weapons over to the PA. Most of them have been absorbed by the safety forces, whereas others saved their weapons and have been sought by the PA.
  • In April 2016 the Palestinian safety forces clashed with the operatives of the AAMB after an try and detain a suspect in Nablus. A number of months later the Palestinian safety forces detained an area chief who belonged to the AAMB and he was overwhelmed to dying. His dying triggered native protests.

^[1] For additional data see the July 3, 2022 bulletin, “The Jenin Battalion: a non-aligned group of terrorists working in opposition to the Israeli safety forces.” ↑

^[2] Jamal al-Hawil is a senior Fatah determine in Jenin, a member of the motion’s Revolutionary Council, who fought within the Jenin refugee camp throughout Operation Defensive Protect and was sentenced to varied phrases of incarceration in Israeli jails. ↑

^[3] Which in any case contains deadly occasions. ↑

^[4] For additional data, see the February 15, 2022 bulletin, “Fatah and the Palestinian Authority undertake the three terrorists killed in Nablus.” ↑

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