Hamas in Lebanon, on Monday, called on Palestinian youth to join the newly formed group, ‘Aqsa Flood Pioneers,’ created to participate in resisting Israel from Lebanon amidst the war in Gaza. Since the unprecedented attack launched by the group against Israel on October 7, which was met with a destructive Israeli response in the Gaza Strip, the Palestinian faction has been involved in several operations from southern Lebanon, as part of daily attacks led by Hezbollah in support of Gaza.
Hamas in Lebanon announced in a statement on their official accounts the establishment of ‘Aqsa Flood Pioneers,’ inviting Palestinian people to join its ranks. The move, according to the statement, reaffirms the Palestinian people’s role in resisting occupation with all available and legitimate means and seeks to utilize the capabilities and scientific and technical skills of their men and youth.
In Lebanon, home to 250,000 Palestinian refugees, most of whom are distributed in 12 camps, the military activity of Palestinian factions, including Hamas, is confined to the camps, which Lebanese security forces do not enter as per an implicit agreement between the Palestinian Liberation Organization (Fatah) and Lebanese authorities.
However, since the launch of ‘Aqsa Flood’ operation against Israel, ‘Al-Qassam Brigades,’ the military wing of Hamas, has been involved in operations, including infiltration and rocket launches from southern Lebanon. ‘Al-Qassam Brigades’ claimed the launch of 16 rockets from southern Lebanon towards northern Israel and south of Haifa on November 6.
Hamas and Islamic Jihad, alongside Hezbollah and Iran’s Quds Force, coordinate their movements through a joint operations room. Israel, in response, targets Lebanese border areas, targeting infrastructure associated with Hezbollah, leading to the deaths of more than 110 people, mostly Hezbollah fighters. Among the dead, nine were fighters mourned by Hamas.
Hamas launched a surprise attack in the Gaza envelope from the sector on October 7, killing about 1,200 people, according to Israeli authorities. Israel vowed to ‘eliminate’ Hamas and initiated intensive bombing of the Gaza Strip, starting ground operations on October 27. The Israeli bombing resulted in 15,899 deaths, most of them civilians, according to the latest toll announced by the Hamas-controlled Ministry of Health on Sunday.
A temporary 7-day ceasefire ended earlier this month, allowing the exchange of dozens of hostages held in the Gaza Strip for Palestinian prisoners held by Israel, and the entry of humanitarian aid trucks from Egypt into the devastated sector.
Several Hamas leaders have made Lebanon their base of operations.
