Osama Hamdan, the top representative of Hamas in Lebanon

The Hamas organization has a permanent and established presence in Lebanon.[1][2] The presence gained prominence following the announcement of the formation of the Al-Aqsa Flood Vanguards unit by Hamas in Beirut in 2023.[3]

According to Free Patriotic Movement (FPM) Leader Gebran Bassil, Hamas's establishment in Lebanon raised concerns about Lebanon's sovereignty and stability.[4][5][6]

History

The relationship between Hamas and Hezbollah has developed over the years according to “Lorient Today”.  Due to a mutual quest to undermine the PLO following their collaboration with Israel, the two organizations were closely aligned in certain periods.

Their relationship deteriorated following Hamas's political alliance with Turkey, a country Iran, Hezbollah's supporter, has had disagreements with. Their relationship worsened in 2011, during the Syrian uprising, when Hamas supported the rebels against the government. Hezbollah was fighting with the Syrian government against the Syrian rebels which included Hamas operatives present in Syria.[7]

Hamas and Hezbollah's relationship started to improve in more recent years following the improving bond between Iran and Turkey. Hamas has had operatives over the years in Lebanon refugee camps, the improvement in Hamas-Hezbollah-Iran relationship led to an increase in Hamas presence and power in Lebanon, reported not only as political but as military support. 

Jeroen Gunning, a professor of middle eastern studies at Kings College in London, explained that historically, during the British administration between 1920 and 1948, the South Lebanon community and the Northern community (Israel today) were intertwined. Following The Israel Independence war in 1948, Palestinians fled to Lebanon establishing several refugee camps in Lebanon. In 1969, the Lebanese state granted the camps independence to manage their own security.[7]

Historically, Hezbollah's involvement in Lebanese politics was limited to parliamentary activities. However, the Withdrawal of Israel from Lebanon in 2000 and Syria's departure in 2005, altering the political and military landscape on both regional and domestic fronts. In response, Hezbollah enhanced its involvement in Lebanese politics, officially joining the Lebanese government in 2005. While Israel's withdrawal in 2000 was hailed as the conclusive triumph for the Resistance in Lebanon, A significant challenge emerged concerning Hezbollah's disarmament, leading the movement to vehemently oppose it and even resort to force in May 2008, pushing the nation to the brink of internal conflict.[8]

In recent years, various Arab and international parties have passed numerous resolutions and agreements to address the stability and security of the volatile Lebanese region.[9]

In 2004, the UN Security Council Resolution 1559 was passed, ordering all armed militants to be disarmed of their weaponry. This is in order to allow the Lebanese state to assert its sovereignty.

In 2006, another resolution was passed by the UN Security Council, in the wake of the Israel-Lebanon war. The 1701 resolution orders Hezbollah and Israel to cease fire and all attacks and operations.[9]

According to US State Department spokeswoman and several other sources, Hezbollah violated the UN resolution on various occasions. Over the past years Hezbollah has been reported to getting arms from Iran and building bases for the production of independent arms within Lebanon.[10][11][9]

The Time of Israel explains the previous agreement that the Lebanese army refrains from intervening in these camps, left them vulnerable to the control of Palestinian parties, including Hamas.[1][12]

In 2017, Yahya Sinwar took over as Hamas leader in Gaza. Sinwar, having close relations with Iran according to New Lines Magazine, repaired Hamas's relationship with the Lebanese organization Hezbollah and with Syria's President Bashar al-Assad. The restored relationship united the organization into an unofficial “unity of battlefields”, meaning that any attack on one member of the alliance (such as Hamas in Gaza) would be taken as an attack on all.[12]

In 2020, Hamas’ leader, Ismail Haniyeh, was reported visiting Lebanon's Palestinian refugee camps.[12]

In 2022 Sinwar revealed a treaty between the "Axis of Resistance" (Lebanese, Palestinian, Syrian and Iranian). Analysts suspect a joint security room exists in Lebanon.[7] Despite the organizations cooperation, according to Ahmed Abdul-Hadi, the head of Hamas's political bureau in Beirut, Hamas did not inform Hezbollah before their attack on 7 October 2023 in Israel.[7][6] In a statement to Al Jazeera Arabic, Ali Baraka stated that after the attack Hamas military leader Mohammed Deif appealed for support from Lebanon, Iran, Iraq, Syria, and Yemen. He revealed the existence since 2021 of a Palestinian Joint Operations Room among the various factions.[13]

Concerns have been raised by the previous Israeli ambassador to the United Nations, Danny Danon, regarding Hezbollah's relationship with Hamas. In a letter he wrote in May 2018 he warned regarding the strengthening relationship between Hamas and Hezbollah, referring to them as “the two internationally recognized terrorist organizations.. the Iranian proxy”. He refers to a previous letter he sent in 2017, where he informed the UN that Hamas has been conspiring with Hezbollah and its Teheran Sponsor in purpose to expand its activities beyond the Gaza borders.  According to Danon, the cooperation between Hamas, Hezbollah and Iran is an international threat.[1]

Hamas 2023 declaration

On December 4, 2023, in the midst of the 2023 Israeli-Hamas war in Gaza, Hamas announced the organization's official establishment in Lebanon. The Lebanon-based unit was named the “al-Aqsa Flood Vanguards unit”.[14][15][16]

Hamas's announcement called the “Palestinian people” of Lebanon and all Jihad fighters to join the organization and contribute to the resistance against the occupation, framing it as part of the broader struggle for the liberation of Jerusalem and the Al-Aqsa Mosque.[16]

According to a US official reported on Sky News, Hezbollah had supplied Hamas members in Lebanon with rockets to use against Israel during the 2023 Israel–Lebanon border conflict.[1]

Response

The establishment of the Vanguards of the Al-Aqsa Flood faced severe criticism from various political figures and factions within Lebanon. Many argued that such an organization, with potential military implications, could infringe upon Lebanon's sovereignty and violate international resolutions, particularly the Taif Agreement. Critics, including members of the Christian Lebanese Forces Party and other political figures, voiced concerns about a potential recurrence of historical issues related to armed Palestinian factions operating from Lebanese territory.

In response to the widespread criticism, Hamas' representative in Lebanon, Ahmad Abd Al-Hadi, attempted to ease concerns by stating that the organization would not have a military character. However, conflicting statements from other Hamas sources indicated that some members might be involved in armed resistance.

Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati firmly rejected the establishment of the new organization, emphasizing that it was inconceivable, and stressed that relevant elements had clarified it was not intended for military action.[16]

An Israeli drone attack in the Dahieh neighborhood of Beirut on 2 January 2024 led to the assassination of Saleh al-Arouri, the deputy leader of Hamas's political bureau and one of key figures behind the 2023 Hamas-led attack on Israel.[17]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "With support of Iran and Hezbollah, experts believe Hamas well established in Lebanon".
  2. ↑ "Christians oppose Hamas recruitment in Lebanese refugee camps". www.janglo.net. Retrieved 2024-01-02.
  3. ↑ "MERIA: Do Good Fences Make Good Neighbors?: Israel and Lebanon after the Withdrawal". ciaotest.cc.columbia.edu. Retrieved 2024-01-02.
  4. ↑ "Analyse. Le Liban va-t-il se transformer en "Hamasland" ?". Courrier international (in French). 2023-12-07. Retrieved 2024-01-02.
  5. ↑ "Al-Aqsa Flood Vanguards unit: 'Hamasland' in south Lebanon?". today.lorientlejour.com.
  6. 1 2 Salhani, Justin. "Hamas is now recruiting in Lebanon. What will that mean for Hezbollah?". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 2024-01-02.
  7. 1 2 3 4 "Hamas in Lebanon: Everything you should know".
  8. ↑ Dionigi, Filippo (2014), Dionigi, Filippo (ed.), "Hezbollah and UNSC Resolutions 1559 and 1701", Hezbollah, Islamist Politics, and International Society, Middle East Today, New York: Palgrave Macmillan US, pp. 137–160, doi:10.1057/9781137403025_8, ISBN 978-1-137-40302-5, retrieved 2024-01-02
  9. 1 2 3 "Hezbollah and Lebanon: An In-Depth Examination Under Hassan Nasrallah's Leadership". www.idf.il. Retrieved 2024-01-02.
  10. ↑ "US says Hezbollah 'in blatant violation' of UN resolutions". The Jerusalem Post. 2015-01-28. Retrieved 2024-01-02.
  11. ↑ "Hezbollah violates UN resolution, targets Greek Orthodox Church in northern Israel". CNBCTV18. 2023-12-26. Retrieved 2024-01-02.
  12. 1 2 3 Rowell, Alex (2023-11-03). "Hamas Attacks on Israel From Lebanon Stoke Fears of a Repeat of History". New Lines Magazine. Retrieved 2024-01-02.
  13. ↑ Dihasha, Najiya (2023-10-12). "قيادي في حماس للجزيرة نت: المقاومة من جنوب لبنان لمنع الاستفراد بغزة". Al Jazeera Arabic (in Arabic). Retrieved 6 December 2023.
  14. ↑ "N12 - ההכרזה על התארגנות טרור חדשה בלבנון - והזעם". N12. 2023-12-05. Retrieved 2024-01-02.
  15. ↑ ארי, ליאור בן (2023-12-05). "חמאס הודיע על הקמת "חלוצי מבול אל-אקצא" בלבנון - במדינה זועמים". Ynet (in Hebrew). Retrieved 2024-01-02.
  16. 1 2 3 "Public Uproar In Lebanon Following Hamas-Lebanon's Announcement Of New Resistance Organization: We Don't Want 'Hamas-Land' In Lebanon". MEMRI. Retrieved 2024-01-02.
  17. ↑ Ari, Lior Ben (2024-01-02). "Saleh al-Arouri, Hamas No. 2 killed in Hamas offices blast in Beirut". Ynetnews. Retrieved 2024-01-02.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.