Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades

Also known as Al-Qassam Brigades, IQB, Qassam Brigades, Battalions of martyr Izz ad-Din al-Qassam, Izzedine al-Qassam Brigades, Ezzedeen al-Qassam Brigades

military wing of the Palestinian Hamas organization

Key facts

Commander: Vacant
Deputy commander: Vacant
Spokesman: Abu Obeida (since December 2025)
Dates of operation: 1991–present
Headquarters: Gaza Strip
Active regions: Palestine , Israel , Lebanon , Syria
Ideology: Sunni Islamism , Islamic fundamentalism , Palestinian nationalism , Anti-Zionism , Palestinian self-determination
Political position: Right-wing
Status: Active
Size: 25,000–30,000+ (est.)
Part of: Hamas , Palestinian Joint Operations Room
Opponents: List of opponents State opponents: Israel Palestinian Authority Egypt United Arab Emirates United States Non-state opponents: Islamic State Counter-Terrorism Strike Force Popular Forces Fatah

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Article

Al-Qassam Brigades, also known as the Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades (EQB; Arabic: كتائب الشهيد عز الدين القسام, romanized: Katāʾib ash-Shahīd ʿIzz ad-Dīn al-Qassām, lit. 'The Battalions of the Martyr Izz ad-Din al-Qassam'), are the military wing of the Sunni Islamist Palestinian nationalist organization, Hamas. Led by Mohammed Deif until his death on 13 July 2024, Al-Qassam Brigades are the largest and best-equipped militant organization operating within the Gaza Strip in recent years.

Created in mid-1991, they were at the time concerned with blocking the Oslo Accords negotiations. From 1994 to 2000, Al-Qassam Brigades have claimed responsibility for carrying out a number of attacks against Israelis.