| Mujahideen Brigades | |
|---|---|
| كتائب المجاهدين Kataeb al-Mujahideen | |
.jpg) 'Exercise Effective Promise 4' in theGaza Strip in 2022, conducted by the Mujahideen Brigades.[1] | |
| Also known as | Other translations and transliterations
|
| Founder | Omar Attia Abu Sharia X[f][8][9] Kunya: Abu Hafs.[10] |
| Secretary General | As'ad Abu Shari'a X[11][12] |
| Spokesman | Abu Bilal.[g] |
| Foundation | 2006 |
| Split from |  Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades[4] |
| Country | Palestine |
| Allegiance |  PalestinePalestinian Joint Operations Room[h] |
| Headquarters | Khan Younis |
| Active regions | |
| Ideology | |
| Major actions | Kidnapping of the Bibas family |
| Status | Active |
| Part of | |
| Allies | |
| Opponents | |
| Battles and wars | |
| Designated as a terrorist group by |  Israel |
| Website | www |
| Martyrs of the Occupied Interior | |
|---|---|
| شهداء الداخل المحتل | |
| Also known as | "Dāham" Arabic:داهم |
| Country | Israel |
| Allegiance | Palestine |
| Active regions | |
| Ideology | anti-Zionism |
| Status | Active |
| Size | Small |
| Opponents | IsraelPalestinian Authority[i] |
Mujahideen Brigades (Arabic:كتائب المجاهدين,romanized: Kataeb al-Mujahideen) is anarmedwing of thePalestinian Mujahideen Movement (Arabic:حركة المجاهدين الفلسطينية,romanized: Harakat al-Mujāhidīn al-Filastīnīa). The brigades operate in theOccupied Palestinian territories of theGaza Strip andThe West Bank, includingJenin.[11]
The Mujahideen Brigades operate independently of Hamas but collaborates closely with militants fromPalestinian Islamic Jihad's armed wing,Saraya Al Quds.[24][33]
The political wing is thePalestinian Mujahideen Movement (Arabic:حركة المجاهدين الفلسطينية,romanized: Haraka al-Mujahidīn al-FilisTīnīa).[11][j] It is one of the most prominent Islamic factions among Palestinian militants in theGaza Strip and theWest Bank.[citation needed]
The Mujahideen Brigades are the militant wing. The Brigades operate independently of Hamas but collaborates closely with militants fromPalestinian Islamic Jihad's armed wing,Saraya Al Quds.[24][33]
ThePalestinian Mujahideen Movement has another militant division, whom they call the "Martyrs of the Occupied Interior" unit (Arabic:شهداء الداخل المحتل,romanized: Shuhadā' ad-Dākhil al-Muhtali), or "Dāham" (Arabic:داهم).[18]The unit focuses on attacks in Israel, inside theGreen Line.[18]TheFDD's Long War Journal describes the group as being active in theWest Bank.[32]
Their logo depicts a bird of prey with a batton.[32]
The Mujahideen Brigades often promote or endorse a Palestinian religious group called the"Rightly Guided Caliphs" (Arabic:مجمع الخلفاء الراشدين الدعوي,romanized: Mujmae al-Khulafā'al-Rāshidīn al-Duewī).[34][35]
The organization was founded byOmar Abu Sharia (Arabic:عمر أبو شريعة),[9][8][36] in 2006,[9][8] or in 2001 at the beginning of theSecond Intifada.[8][37]
The Mujahideen Brigades – and their political wing the Palestinian Mujahideen Movement – began as a break-away faction of theFatah movement. Before the schism, the Mujahideen Brigades (Arabic:كتائب المجاهدين,romanized: Kataeb Mujahideen) were known as theMartyr Jamal Al-Amari Brigade and they were part of Fatah'sAl-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades.[k] As they grew they changed their name from MujahideenBattalion (Arabic:كتيبة المجاهدين,romanized: Katība al-Mujahidīn) to the MujahideenBrigades (Arabic:كتائب المجاهدين,romanized: Kataeb al-Mujahidīn).[39]
| No. | Name | Took office | Left office | Cause of death |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Omar Abu Sharia | 2006 | April 2007 | Died of Injuries months after a Israeli Airstrike targeted him in 2006.[40] |
| 2. | As'ad Abu Shari'a | 24 April 2007 | 7 June 2025 | Assassinated by an Israeli Airstrike in 2025.[41] |
| 3. | Ali Saadi Wasfi al-Agha | 7 June 2025 | 20 june 2025 | Assassinated by an Israeli Airstrike in 2025.[42] |
| 4. | Musbah Salim Musbah Dayyah | 20 June 2025 | 3 September 2025 | Assassinated by an Israeli Airstrike in 2025.[43] |
| 5. | Vacant |
The Mujahideen Brigades have claimed responsibility for direct fights against Israel and are known to operate in cooperation with other Palestinian militant groups.[11]
The Mujahideen Brigades' primary role is engaging in armedguerrilla warfare againstIsrael, focusing on both direct military confrontations androcket fire. Their operations have been part of the largerconflict between Israel and Palestinian militant groups.[44] They conduct military training and maneuvers in the Gaza Strip. These drills and training are aimed at enhancing their fighters' combat skills and simulating offensive operations against Israeli targets.[44]
Over the years,[when?] the movement became a member of theHamas-led government in Gaza[clarification needed] and cooperated with it in operations, supplying weapons and training.[3]
In 2012, a cell of the movement fromHebron and theGaza Strip planned to kidnap an Israeli citizen, as a bargaining chip for the release of members of the movementimprisoned in Israel.[45]
The Mujahideen Brigades took part in the2021 Israel–Palestine crisis.[46]
The Mujahideen Brigades participated in theGaza war, attacking Israeli forces in theGaza Envelope,[19] theGaza Strip,[47][48] and theWest Bank.[47][48]They joined the 7 October 2023 attacks initiated by Hamas'Al-Qassam Brigades military wing.[19] During the raid that day, the Mujahideen Brigadeskidnapped three members of the Bibas family, a fourth Bibas family member was separately captured by Hamas' militants.[49][28][50][2]
The Mujahideen Brigades were largely ignored by the media for the first few months of theGaza war, until their videos were broadcast by Arabic language news channels likeAl Jazeera Mubasher (Al Jazeera Live) andAl Araby TV in early 2024. Some propaganda videos from the Mujahideen Brigades used a blue triangle to highlight targets,[51][52][53] in place of thered triangle used in videos made by theQassam Brigades.[54][55][56]
The leaders and founders of thePalestinian Mujahideen Movement are from the Al-Hasayna (Arabic:الحساينة) and Abu Sharia (Arabic:أبو شريعة) families in Gaza, and haveBedouin roots.[10]On 23 November 2023, the homes of the Al-Hasayna (Arabic:الحساينة) and Abu Sharia (Arabic:أبو شريعة) families were destroyed in anairstrike [ar], that allegedly killed 93 Palestinians (Arabic:وليد زيارة).[57][58][59] Neither side acknowledged a possible target, and only civilians casualties were reported.[57][59] On 23 November 2023 the secretary general of the Mujahedeen Movement, Asaad Abu Sharia, stated that numerous members of his immediate and extended family had been killed in airstrikes.[60][61] The group said this included their leader's wife and children, his older brother Bassam Attia Abu Sharia, and multiple members of the leader's extended family. They also said the leader's family had been previously targeted at the beginning of the war, killing his sister and three generations of her family.[62][63]
The Mujahideen Brigades were holding three members of theBibas family hostage inKhan Yunis.[28] The group holding the Bibas family was shown to be the Mujahideen Brigades based onCCTV footage found inKhan Younis.[64][49][28]
The Mujahedeen Brigades explicitly claimed responsibility for the original kidnapping of the mother and two children from the Bibas family.[65] Yarden Bibas was captured separately by Hamas militants.[66] The family had a gun in the house for self defense, but it was inadequate against heavily armed militants from multiple factions.[67]
Shiri Bibas and her two young children, Ariel and Kfir, wereabducted fromKibbutzNir Oz on7 October 2023. Kfir was less than one year old at the time and the youngest hostage held by Gaza's militant factions.[68] The IDF claimed they were kidnapped by Hamas, but then said were held by "another group" after they were excluded from the2023 Israeli–Palestinian prisoner exchange in November 2023.[50] Some sources claim "civilians" joined theattack at Nir Oz.[69]
In November 2023, Mujahideen Brigades stated on social media that the Bibas family was in their custody.[24]
Then on 29 November, during hostage negotiations,Hamas claimed Shiri Bibas and her children had been killed in an Israeli air strike while in captivity.[70][71][72] In November 2023 the IDF said they were not sure if the trio were being held by Hamas.[73] On 19 February, the IDF presented a video showing Shiri and the children still alive several days after the abduction. The video was apparently filmed in southern Gaza.[74] Hamas's Qassam Brigades published a video of Yarden Bibas being told his family had been killed.[75] Hamas offered to hand over the three bodies but Israel were "unresponsive".[76]
The statements by the Mujahideen Brigades themselves were mostly ignored outside of the Israel and the Arab world, but a laterIDF announcement got international attention in February 2024. The group holding the Bibas family was confirmed to be the Mujahideen Brigades based onCCTV footage found inKhan Younis.[28][68][49]
Hamas had never released photos or other indirect evidence, but in November 2023, Hamas offered to release the three bodies and still living Yarden Bibas on compassionate grounds, but Israel had refused the offer.[77][75] Israel described the offer as "psychological warfare".[75]
On 19 February 2024 the Mujahideen Brigades's spokesperson Abu Bilal confirmed that three members of theBibas family had been killed in anIsraeli airstrike about three weeks after being kidnapped by the Mujahideen Brigades on 7 October 2023.[13][16][78] He accused Netanyahu of "deliberately targeting them with his army's missiles to evade paying the price due for their liberation".[13][15][14][17][24]
Hamas also offered to release Yarden Bibas for the funeral in November 2023.[77] Yarden was in Hamas' own custody, separate from the other family members held by the Mujahideen Brigades. Israel rejected the offer and Yarden remained in Gaza for a further 14 months. When Yarden Bibas was released in early 2025, the IDF claimed that they still could not confirm if the other family members were alive or dead.[79][80] Israel "demand Hamas clarify" their status.[81] According to the ceasefire deal living women and children were supposed to be released first and dead bodies last.[81]
On 17 February 2025 Hamas announced that the bodies of the Bibas family would be released with other dead hostages, as agreed by the ceasefire deal.[82][83][84] Some reports implied that Hamas themselves had decided for themselves to release the Bibas family's bodies first, and possibly ahead of schedule. The negotiator Khalil al-Hayya said the Hamas movement "decided to hand over four bodies on Thursday, among them (those of) the Bibas family".[85]
When the Brigades released the bodies of Shirin Bibas and her children the Brigades stated that they themselves had captured the family and reiterated the accusations that the Israeli military has killed the family.[86] Despite this, some major news sources in the Western media, and far right leaders in the United States, falsely claimed the family had been captured by "Hamas" (the political wing associated with the Qassam Brigades), which contradicted even Israeli sources.[49][28][50][2]
When the bodies were returned to Israel, Israeli operatives claimed that the body returned as Shirin Bibas was not the best. They claimed ruled out any other hostage with DNA testing and they IDF posted a tweet that described her as an "anonymous unidentified body".[87][88]
The Mujahedeen Movement and Hamas Movement issued several statements in response.[89][90] Hamas included a Hebrew translation of theirs.
Mujahideen Brigades are on theSpecially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List ("SDN List") ofOffice of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC).[91] According to OFAC, they also operate by the names "Al Mujahideen Brigades", "Ansar al-Mujahidin Movement", "Holy Warriors Battalion", and "Khatib Al-Mujahidin".[92] They are also under theUS Trade Consolidated Screening List, meaning they're being restricted on certain exports, reexports, or transfers of items.[92]
הם פועלים באופן עצמאי, אך מתפקדים גם ככוח מסייע עבור אנשי הזרוע הצבאית של חמאס. יש להם שיתופי פעולה צבאיים גם עם פעילים מארגון הג'יהאד האסלאמי.[They operate independently, but also function as an auxiliary force for Hamas' military wing. They also have military cooperation with operatives from the Islamic Jihad organization.]
وقال الناطق "أبو بلال": "تعليقاً على الفيديوهات التي بثها إعلام الاحتلال من منزل مجاور في 7 أكتوبر، نؤكد أننا أسرنا عائلة "بيباس" المكونة من ثلاثة أشخاص واحتجزناهم بمكان آمن وعملنا على توفير الحماية لهم لمدة تزيد عن عشرين يوماً"، مضيفاً: "أصر نتنياهو على قتل العائلة والتخلص من بقية الأسرى من خلال القصف الهمجي لقطاع غزة". وتابع أن المقاطع "تثبت كذب روايته (الاحتلال) وصدق روايتنا، والمعاملة الحسنة التي تلقتها العائلة من مجاهدينا"، محملاً "نتنياهو وحكومته الفاشية" مسؤولية قتل عائلة "بيباس" و"محاولته التخلص من باقي الأسرى عبر التعمد باستهدافهم بصواريخ جيشه للتهرب من دفع الثمن المستحق لتحريرهم".
وعقب نشر الفيديو، قالت كتائب المجاهدين، التي قامت بأسر العائلة، إنها احتجزتهم بمكان آمن وعملت على توفير الحماية لهم مدة تزيد عن 20 يوما. وأوضح الناطق باسم "المجاهدين" أبو بلال، أن "نتنياهو أصر على قتل العائلة، والتخلص من بقية الأسرى، من خلال القصف الهمجي للقطاع". وشدد على أن المقطع الذي نشره الاحتلال، "يؤكد كذب روايته وصدق روايتنا، والمعاملة الحسنة التي تلقتها العائلة من مجاهدينا" وتابع: "نحمل نتنياهو وحكومته الفاشية، مسؤولية قتل عائلة بيباس، ومحاولة التخلص من باقي الأسرى، عبر تعمد استهدافهم بالصواريخ والتهرب من دفع الثمن المستحق لتحريرهم".
وحمل "أبو بلال" نتياهو وحكومته الفاشية مسؤولية قتل عائلة "بيباس" ومحاولته التخلص من باقي الأسرى، عبر التعمد باستهدافهم بصواريخ جيشه للتهرب من دفع الثمن المستحق لتحريرهم.[Abu Bilal held Netanyahu and his fascist government responsible for killing the Bibas family and his attempt to get rid of the rest of the prisoners, by deliberately targeting them with his army's missiles to evade paying the price due for their release.]
وحمل "أبو بلال" "نتياهو" وحكومته الفاشية مسؤولية قتل تلك العائلة وأكد أنه يحاول التخلص من باقي الأسرى عمدا، باستهدافهم بصواريخ جيشه للتهرب من دفع الثمن المستحق لتحريرهم.[Abu Bilal held Netanyahu and his fascist government responsible for killing that family and stressed that he is trying to get rid of the rest of the prisoners deliberately, by targeting them with his army's missiles to evade paying the price due for their liberation.]
They operate independently, but also function as an auxiliary force for Hamas' military wing. They also have military cooperation with operatives from the Islamic Jihad organization. (Translated from Hebrew.)
الأمين العام لحركة المجاهدين الفلسطينية د.أسعد ابو شريعة 'أبو الشيخ" يصرح بالتالي : إن استشهاد أسرتي وعدد كبير من وجهاء عائلتي عائلة أبوشريعة المجاهدة ، وكل دماء أبناء شعبنا الزكية التي نزفت في هذه المعركة هي وقودُ الانتصار ولن تزيدنا إلا تمسكاً بتحقيق الهدف و اصراراً على هدم دولة الكيان الصهيوني الفاشية النازية المفسدة في هذه الارض.
وقد استهدف العدو أيضا في بداية العدوان أحد منازل عائلته حيث اسشتهدت أخته وزوجها وأبناءها وأحفادها وأبناء عمه وأبنائهم وأحفادهم ..
وقال أبو بلال الناطق باسم كتائب المجاهدين في تصريح صحفي: ضمن إطار المرحلة الأولى من اتفاق تبادل الأسرى مع المقاومة الفلسطينية سيتم بحول الله غدا الخميس 20 فبراير 2025 تسليم جثامين عائلة بيباس، الذين تم أسرهم على يد مجموعة من مجاهدي كتائب المجاهدين في 7 أكتوبر 2023.
Yarden Bibas told his sister he had a gun in the house, but couldn't use it to defend his family against so many gunmen armed with automatic rifles.
In November 2023, Hamas published a video of Yarden Bibas being told his wife and children had been killed. Hamas said they were killed in an IDF air strike on Khan Younis, in southern Gaza. … Hamas claimed it tried to release Shiri, Kfir and Ariel's bodies as part of the first ceasefire at the end of 2023, but that Israel wouldn't accept them. But it has not released videos or pictures of Shiri and her children either alive or dead … Israel's government has said it does not know the family's fate and has warned that Hamas's announcements could be psychological warfare.
Hamas on Dec 1 said it had offered to hand over the bodies of a mother and her two sons – one of them a baby – in talks to extend a now-expired truce. Ms Shiri Bibas, her 10-month-old son Kfir and his four-year-old brother Ariel, along with their father Yarden, have become emblematic of the Oct 7 attacks, because of the age of baby Kfir. Earlier this week, Hamas' armed wing announced that Ms Bibas, Kfir and Ariel had been killed in an Israeli bombing before the now-lapsed truce went into effect – a claim Israel's military has said it is investigating, but has yet to confirm … "Hamas also offered to transfer the Bibas family's bodies and release their father for their burial, along with two Zionist detainees" … Israeli authorities "remained unresponsive" …
Hamas confirmed it would hand over the bodies on 20th of February as part of the exchange. In November 2023, the group claimed the Bibas family was killed in an Israeli airstrike but provided no evidence. Israel has not confirmed their deaths.
Hamas "decided to release on Saturday, 22 February, the remaining living (Israeli) prisoners whose release was agreed in the first phase, numbering six", the group's top negotiator Khalil al-Hayya said in a televised address. The group also "decided to hand over four bodies on Thursday, among them (those of) the Bibas family", Hayya added.
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