Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades

The Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades (كتائب شهداء الاقصى) are one of the militias of Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat's al-Fatah faction. They have been one of the driving forces behind the al-Aqsa Intifada, emerging shortly afterwards. This militia was originally named after the Al-Aqsa Mosque, one of Islam's holiest sites and an icon for the Palestinian movement. The group's membership is primarily drawn from the ranks of Tanzim, (organization in Arabic), a militant youth group within al-Fatah. Following Yasser Arafat's death on November 11, 2004, the Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades announced it was renaming itself to Brigades of Martyr Yasser Arafat. However, they later went back to using the original name.

Related Topics:
Palestinian - Yasser Arafat - Fatah - Al-Aqsa Intifada - Al-Aqsa Mosque - Islam - Arabic - November 11 - 2004

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While the group initially vowed to target only Israeli soldiers and settlers in the West Bank and Gaza Strip and carried out guerrilla warfare against the Israeli military, in early 2002 it began a series of attacks against civilians in Israeli cities. In March 2002, after a deadly al-Aqsa Brigades suicide bombing in Jerusalem, the US State Department added the group to the list of foreign terrorist organizations.

Related Topics:
West Bank - Gaza Strip - Guerrilla warfare - Israeli military - 2002 - Civilian - Jerusalem - Foreign terrorist organizations

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At that time, many Palestinian sources stated that the group was not officially backed by Arafat and Fatah, though brigade members tend also to be members of Fatah, the Palestinian leader's political faction, and Maslama Thabet, one of the group’s leaders, told USA Today "We receive our instructions from Fatah. Our commander is Yasser Arafat himself." In June 2004 the current Palestinian Prime Minister openly stated that the Brigades were part of Fatah.

Related Topics:
Maslama Thabet - USA Today

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Israel charges that neither Fatah nor the Palestinian Authority have made any attempt to prevent their attacks. On December 18, 2003, Fatah decided to ask the leaders of the Al-Aqsa Martyr's Brigades to join the Fatah Council, recognizing it officially as part of the organization.

Related Topics:
Palestinian Authority - December 18 - 2003 - Fatah Council

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Furthermore, Israel published documents allegedly found in Arafat's compound, claiming that they prove Arafat knowingly sponsored Al-Aqsa attacks; US president George W. Bush used these documents to justify calling for the replacement of Arafat.

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