Free Palestine Movement Explained

Free Palestine Movement
Native Name:حركة فلسطين حرة
Native Name Lang:Arabic
War:the Israeli–Palestinian conflict and the Syrian Civil War
Active: 2003 – present
Ideology:Palestinian nationalism[1] [2]
Anti-Zionism
Clans:
Leaders:
  • Yasser Qashlaq
  • Saed Abd Al-Aal [3]
Area:Palestine, Syria, Lebanon
Allies: Syrian Armed Forces
Fatah al-Intifada
Opponents: Syrian opposition and allied mujahideen

Israel
Battles:Israeli–Palestinian conflict

Syrian Civil War

The Free Palestine Movement (Arabic: حركة فلسطين حرة) is a Palestinian Syrian armed movement and community organization that is led by the businessman Yasser Qashlaq and supports the Ba'athist government of Syria. The organization opposes the existence of Israel, and was mostly known for political activism and social services in favor of Palestinians in Syria and the Gaza Strip before 2012. Upon the outbreak of the Syrian Civil War, however, the Free Palestine Movement formed its own militias and has since then openly fought for the Syrian government against various rebel groups.

History

Early activities

The Free Palestine Movement was founded by Yasser Qashlaq, a Syria-born Palestinian businessman of considerable wealth[1] who heads several organizations including the Lebanese Institute of International Studies, the Syrian-Palestinian Investment House, the Palestinian Businessmen's Club, and also owns a small Lebanese newspaper.[4] Furthermore, Yasser is known for his antisemitic views, having repeatedly called Jews "dregs of European garbage", a "gang of criminal murderers",[2] and "human pieces of filth"[5] that should be deported to Europe.[2] [5] He has also stated that there is "no reason for coexistence" between Israelis and Palestinians, as the latter would reclaim their lands and "hunt [the Israelis] down to the end of the world, and prosecute them for their massacres".[2] Though close to the Syrian government,[1] [4] Yasser has denied any links with Hezbollah.[6]

When Yasser first became politically active in the Palestinian Yarmouk Camp of Damascus in 2003, he consequently presented himself as supporting the Second Intifada. Since then, he organized the Free Palestine Movement as community organization which provided social services for Palestinians in Syria and rallied support for the Baa'athist government. Atlantic Council expert Tom Rollins also argued that the organization serves as "vehicle for [Yasser Qashlaq's] political ambitions".[1] According to Qashlaq, the Free Palestine Movement took part in organizing the Freedom Flotilla II for the Gaza Strip in 2010/11.[7] The group armed itself in 2011, with the news site Syria Indicator arguing that this was motivated by the need to suppress anti-Assad protests in the Yarmouk Camp.[8]

Syrian Civil War

After the Syrian Civil War's start, the Free Palestine Movement began to recruit for pro-government militias and founded its own paramilitary wing, the "Al-Aqsa Shield Forces" in 2012. The Al-Aqsa Shield Forces mostly operate in Damascus,[1] especially after an informal power-sharing agreement between the Free Palestine Movement and Fatah al-Intifada, another pro-government militia, in 2016. According to this agreement Yasser Qashlaq paid Fatah al-Intifada a substantial sum for handing over parts of their frontline at the Yarmouk Camp to the Free Palestine Movement. In consequence, Yasser and his movement could gain "valuable political capital" as defenders of Yarmouk which is of great symbolic importance to the Palestinian diaspora, while Fatah al-Intifada got much-needed funds.[1] Since then, the Free Palestine Movement mostly fought the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant militants in Yarmouk Camp,[9] notably participating in the Southern Damascus offensives of March[10] [11] and April and May 2018.[12] [13] In the latter operation the organization's military commander, Saed Abd Al-Aal, was wounded in combat.[14] Fighters of the Free Palestine Movement have also fought in other areas of Damascus, including at Harasta in August 2017[15] and at al-Shaghour during the Rif Dimashq offensive of early 2018.[16]

Though the Free Palestine Movement's activity is mostly concentrated in Damascus, the organization is known to have committed forces to fronts in other regions of Syria as well. In a notable incident in May 2013, the "Abd al-Qadir al-Husayni Battalions", another armed group affiliated with the movement, fired two mortar shells at Israel Defense Forces positions on Mount Hermon. This was reportedly done in commemoration of Nakba Day.[17] [18] Troops of the Free Palestine Movement also operated in Hama in late 2017,[19] and fought in the Battle of Deir ez-Zor (September–November 2017).[20]

After the Yarmouk Camp was fully secured by government forces in May 2018, some locals started to burn down their own houses to prevent them from being looted. In response, the Free Palestine Movement declared that these people would have to account for their actions, and that it would try to prevent further burnings.[21] The group, along with as-Sa'iqa and Fatah al-Intifada, also started to lay off many of its fighters due to the decreasing need for them and lack of funds.[22] Commander Saed Abd Al-Aal denied this, however, and claimed that the Free Palestine Movement had simply redeployed its fighters from Damascus to other war zones.[23] When an Irish parliamentary delegation visited Yarmouk Camp in late July 2018 to evaluate the damage caused by the years-long combat, it was accompanied by Saed Abd Al-Aal.[24] The Free Palestine Movement took part in a festival in honor of Yasser Arafat on 11 November 2018.[25]

At some point in early 2019, the Free Palestine Movement sent detachments to take part in counter-insurgency operations in Deir ez-Zor Governorate, and contributed troops to the Northwestern Syria offensive (April–August 2019). In course of the latter campaign, its troops fought at Halfaya and al-Zakah.[26] [27] In October 2019, a FPM member was shot dead by unknown assailants in Da'el.[28] Meanwhile, the FPM continued to demobilize fighters due to a lack of funds.[29] From late 2019, the party's troops took part in the government's Northwestern Syria offensive (December 2019–March 2020).[30] Around the same time, the Free Palestine Movement was also active in Latakia Governorate, where one of its fighters was killed at Salma.[31] After the Northwestern Syria offensive's conclusion, the Free Palestine Movement continued to be active in Idlib, where it held border posts at the frontline. In February 2020, seven members of the group were killed during clashes in the region.[32]

By 2021, the hashtag #freepalestine became increasingly popular in social media; the hashtag along with the slogan "Free Palestine" were used by activists as a "standalone phrase, not connected to any one movement or institution". However, The Jerusalem Post journalists Shira Silkoff and Eve Young argued that the existence of the Free Palestine Movement of Syria resulted in "many" regarding the slogan "Free Palestine" as "a call to violent resistance against the State of Israel as a Jewish state".[33]

In December 2023, the Free Palestine Movement organized a "solidarity stand" in the Yarmouk Camp to protest against the Israeli invasion of the Gaza Strip. Other Syrian Palestinian individuals and representatives such as several Palestine Liberation Army officers and PPSF leader Khalid ʽAbd al-Majid also took part in the protest.[34]

Organization

The Free Palestine Movement is officially led by Yasser Qashlaq,[1] while Saed Abd Al-Aal serves as the commander of the organization's paramilitary wing.[3] [14] Saed Abd Al-Aal is the son of Muhammad Abdel-Al, a member of the leadership of the Ba'ath Party's Palestinian branch in Syria and former Yarmouk Camp official. The armed forces of the Free Palestine Movement have been described as "rag-tag militia"[9] and include the Saraya Bader, the Al-Aqsa Shield Forces[1] as well as the Abd al-Qadir al-Husayni Battalions.[18] Like other pro-government militias in Syria, the Free Palestine Movement reportedly attracts new recruits with relatively high monthly salaries, as many young Syrian Palestinians are in precarious economic conditions due to the civil war and mass unemployment.[35] By November 2018, 24 fighters had died while fighting in the Syrian Civil War for the FPM.[36]

Alleged criminal activities and war crimes

According to the pro-opposition site Zaman AlWasl and other investigators, two (ex-)members of the Free Palestine Movement, namely Mofeq AlDaouah and Mahmoud Arnaout, were involved in war crimes during the Syrian Civil War. They allegedly targeted and killed civilians during the Siege of Yarmouk Camp. In addition, Zaman AlWasl accused Mofeq of several cases of rape in Yarmouk Camp.[37] [38] Mofeq was nicknamed the "Butcher of Yarmouk" for his actions. After moving to Germany as a refugee, Mofeq was arrested by the German police in Berlin on 4 August 2021. He was accused of having fired an anti-tank weapon into a crowd of civilians, who were waiting for UN food handouts on 23 March 2014 in Yarmouk Camp. At least seven people were killed in the attack.[39] In February 2023, Mofeq was sentenced to life imprisonment by a German court.

According to local activists, the Free Palestine Movement is also involved in criminal business schemes which pressured residents of Yarmouk Camp to sell property under value to make way for a major reconstruction plan of the cityscape.[40] The militia is reportedly connected to and supported by the Al-Shihabi Contracting Company, a company accused of embezzling funds for the reconstruction of Yarmouk Camp. Yasser Qashlaq has been described as the "most famous real estate dealer in the Yarmouk Camp".

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Palestinian-Syrian Militarization in Yarmouk . Tom Rollins . . 19 July 2017 . 18 March 2018.
  2. Web site: Yasser Qashlaq, a Lebanese Flotilla Organizer, on Hizbullah's Al-Manar TV: I Hope Our Ships Will 'Carry These Dregs of European Garbage Back to Their Own Countries' From Israel . . 23 June 2010 . 18 March 2018.
  3. Web site: Reports that agreement between armed opposition factions and Syrian regime "Al-Qadam" has started . Action Group for Palestinians of Syria . 25 September 2017 . 18 February 2024 . 24 March 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180324224448/http://www.actionpal.org.uk/en/post/5866/action-group-for-palestinians-of-syria/reports-that-agreement-between-armed-opposition-factions-and-syrian-regime-al-qadam-has-started . dead .
  4. Web site: New Flotilla Organizer is Wife of Hizbullah Supporter . Eli Stutz . . 18 June 2010 . 18 March 2018.
  5. Web site: Lebanese Businessman: Send 'Filthy Jews' to their True Countries . Elad Benari . . 27 May 2011 . 23 March 2018.
  6. Web site: Hizbullah 'bans' Lebanese singer from all-woman Gaza mission . Ian Black . . 18 June 2010 . 18 March 2018.
  7. Web site: 50 Ships To Join Second Freedom Flotilla . IMEMC Agencies . 16 May 2010 . 18 March 2018.
  8. Web site: The Fall of Yarmouk: War Economy Laws Leave Capital of Palestinian Diaspora in Ruins . Syria Indicator . 28 April 2023 . 18 March 2018 . 19 May 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230519090907/https://syriaindicator.org/en/2023/04/28/the-fall-of-yarmouk-war-economy-laws-leave-capital-of-palestinian-diaspora-in-ruins/ . dead .
  9. Web site: Escalation Threatens South Damascus "De-Escalation" Deal . Tom Rollins . . 24 October 2017 . 18 March 2018.
  10. Web site: Fighting between ISIS and the Free Palestine Movement on the Martyrs' sector axis in Yarmouk camp . Action Group for Palestinians of Syria . 1 March 2018 . 18 March 2018 . 24 March 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180324224418/http://www.actionpal.org.uk/en/post/6700/action-group-for-palestinians-of-syria/fighting-between-isis-and-the-free-palestine-movement-on-the-martyrs-sector-axis-in-yarmouk-camp . dead .
  11. Web site: Bombardment hits a vehicle transporting members of ISIS in Yarmouk camp . Action Group for Palestinians of Syria . 7 March 2018 . 23 March 2018 . 24 March 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180324224451/http://www.actionpal.org.uk/en/post/6732/action-group-for-palestinians-of-syria/bombardment-hits-a-vehicle-transporting-members-of-isis-in-yarmouk-camp . dead .
  12. Web site: 11 Palestinian refugees died in the ongoing clashes in south Damascus . Action Group for Palestinians of Syria . 23 April 2018 . 29 April 2018 . 30 April 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180430045703/http://www.actionpal.org.uk/en/post/6993/action-group-for-palestinians-of-syria/11-palestinian-refugees-died-in-the-ongoing-clashes-in-south-damascus . dead .
  13. Web site: The South Damascus Campaign: Interview with Quwat al-Sa'iqa . Aymenn Jawad Al-Tamimi . 27 April 2018 . 29 April 2018.
  14. Web site: Victims and large-scale destruction after the hysterical bombardment of Yarmouk camp . Action Group for Palestinians of Syria . 21 April 2018 . 29 April 2018 . 17 July 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180717183430/http://www.actionpal.org.uk/en/post/6981/victims-and-large-scale-destruction-after-the-hysterical-bombardment-of-yarmouk-camp . dead .
  15. Web site: 2 Members of Filasteen AlHurra Battalion Killed in Rif Dimashq . Action Group for Palestinians of Syria . 7 August 2017 . 18 March 2018 . 24 March 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180324224222/http://www.actionpal.org.uk/en/post/5603/action-group-for-palestinians-of-syria/2-members-of-filasteen-alhurra-battalion-killed-in-rif-dimashq . dead .
  16. Web site: Free Palestine Movement mourns one of its members . Action Group for Palestinians of Syria . 12 March 2018 . 18 March 2018 . 24 March 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180324224359/http://www.actionpal.org.uk/en/post/6762/action-group-for-palestinians-of-syria/free-palestine-movement-mourns-one-of-its-members . dead .
  17. Web site: Warning Syria . . 16 May 2013 . 18 March 2018.
  18. Web site: Assad And His Allies Threaten To Open A Front In Golan Heights . . 21 May 2013 . 23 March 2018.
  19. Web site: Palestinian refugee dies while fighting in the suburbs of Hama . Action Group for Palestinians of Syria . 22 January 2018 . 23 March 2018. 24 March 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180324224224/http://www.actionpal.org.uk/en/post/6504/action-group-for-palestinians-of-syria/palestinian-refugee-dies-while-fighting-in-the-suburbs-of-hama . dead .
  20. Web site: Member of Free Palestine Movement killed in Deir ez-Zor . Action Group for Palestinians of Syria . 6 August 2017 . 23 March 2018 . 24 March 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180324224458/http://www.actionpal.org.uk/en/post/5925/action-group-for-palestinians-of-syria/member-of-free-palestine-movement-killed-in-deir-ez-zor . dead .
  21. Web site: Pro-regime groups vow to burn the homes of Yarmouk camp . Action Group for Palestinians of Syria . 4 June 2018 . 17 July 2018 . 17 July 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180717183453/http://www.actionpal.org.uk/en/post/7229/news-and-reports/pro-regime-groups-vow-to-burn-the-homes-of-yarmouk-camp . dead .
  22. Web site: Pro-Government Palestinian Factions Lay off Scores of Gunmen . Action Group for Palestinians of Syria . 24 August 2018 . 29 August 2018 . 29 August 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180829175253/http://www.actionpal.org.uk/en/post/7604/action-group-for-palestinians-of-syria/pro-government-palestinian-factions-lay-off-scores-of-gunmen . dead .
  23. Web site: Free Palestine Movement Denies Laying off Gunmen . Action Group for Palestinians of Syria . 28 August 2018 . 29 August 2018 . 29 August 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180829175330/http://www.actionpal.org.uk/en/post/7618/action-group-for-palestinians-of-syria/free-palestine-movement-denies-laying-off-gunmen . dead .
  24. Web site: Irish parliamentary delegation visits Yarmouk camp . Action Group for Palestinians of Syria . 25 June 2018 . 17 July 2018 . 17 July 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180717183443/http://www.actionpal.org.uk/en/post/7337/news-and-reports/irish-parliamentary-delegation-visits-yarmouk-camp . dead .
  25. Web site: Festival Held in Yarmouk Camp for Palestinian Refugees . Action Group for Palestinians of Syria . 18 November 2018 . 9 December 2018 . 9 December 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20181209124231/http://www.actionpal.org.uk/en/post/7968/action-group-for-palestinians-of-syria/festival-held-in-yarmouk-camp-for-palestinian-refugees . dead .
  26. Web site: Pro-Gov't Squad in Syria Mobilizes Forces against Opposition Outfits . Action Group for Palestinians of Syria . 13 June 2019 . 8 August 2019 . 11 August 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190811210012/http://www.actionpal.org.uk/en/post/8761/action-group-for-palestinians-of-syria/pro-gov-t-squad-in-syria-mobilizes-forces-against-opposition-outfits . dead .
  27. Web site: Palestinian Group Fighting alongside Syria's Gov't Forces in Hama . Action Group for Palestinians of Syria . 8 August 2019 . 8 August 2019 . 11 August 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190811205849/http://www.actionpal.org.uk/en/post/8960/action-group-for-palestinians-of-syria/palestinian-group-fighting-alongside-syria-s-gov-t-forces-in-hama . dead .
  28. Web site: Member of Pro-Gov't Squad Killed in War-Torn Syria . Action Group for Palestinians of Syria . 20 October 2019 . 11 November 2019 . 11 November 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20191111181945/http://www.actionpal.org.uk/en/post/9249/action-group-for-palestinians-of-syria/member-of-pro-gov-t-squad-killed-in-war-torn-syria . dead .
  29. Web site: Pro-Gov't Palestinian Groups in Syria Cash-Strapped . Action Group for Palestinians of Syria . 26 October 2019 . 11 November 2019 . 11 November 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20191111181726/http://www.actionpal.org.uk/en/post/9274/action-group-for-palestinians-of-syria/pro-gov-t-palestinian-groups-in-syria-cash-strapped . dead .
  30. News: Palestinian Group Engaged in Pro-Govt Battles in Syria's Idlib Province . Action Group for Palestinians of Syria . 30 December 2019 . 6 February 2020 . 5 February 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200205143221/http://www.actionpal.org.uk/en/post/9544/action-group-for-palestinians-of-syria/palestinian-group-engaged-in-pro-govt-battles-in-syria-s-idlib-province . dead .
  31. Web site: Free Palestine Movement announced the death of one of members . Action Group for Palestinians of Syria . 25 December 2019 . 20 August 2020 . 20 September 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200920112829/https://www.actionpal.org.uk/en/post/9525/action-group-for-palestinians-of-syria/free-palestine-movement-announced-the-death-of-one-of-it-s-members . dead .
  32. Web site: 7 Members of Pro-Govt Palestinian Group Killed in Syria . Action Group for Palestinians of Syria . 28 February 2020 . 20 August 2020 . 20 September 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200920112909/https://www.actionpal.org.uk/en/post/9772/action-group-for-palestinians-of-syria/7-members-of-pro-govt-palestinian-group-killed-in-syria . dead .
  33. Web site: Shira Silkoff . Eve Young . War of the words: The social media battleground of Israel-Gaza clashes . Jerusalem Post . 12 June 2021 . 18 February 2024 .
  34. Web site: Hamda Mustafa . Solidarity stand held in Al-Yarmouk Camp in support for the Palestinian people and resistance . Syria Times . 30 December 2023 . 18 February 2024 . 1 January 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240101073120/http://syriatimes.sy/solidarity-stand-held-in-al-yarmouk-camp-in-support-for-the-palestinian-people-and-resistance/ . dead .
  35. Web site: Palestinian Refugee injured in Yarmouk Clashes . Action Group for Palestinians of Syria . 18 February 2018 . 18 March 2018 . 24 March 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180324224317/http://www.actionpal.org.uk/en/post/4719/action-group-for-palestinians-of-syria/palestinian-refugee-injured-in-yarmouk-clashes . dead .
  36. Web site: 713 Palestinians Killed while Fighting alongside Syria's Pro-Gov't Forces . Action Group for Palestinians of Syria . 1 November 2018 . 8 December 2018 . 8 December 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20181208231812/http://www.actionpal.org.uk/en/post/7897/action-group-for-palestinians-of-syria/713-palestinians-killed-while-fighting-alongside-syria-s-pro-gov-t-forces . dead .
  37. Web site: Palestinian Refugee in Germany Allegedly Involved in Syria War Crimes . Action Group for Palestinians of Syria . 15 August 2020 . 20 August 2020 . 20 September 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200920112944/https://www.actionpal.org.uk/en/post/10516/action-group-for-palestinians-of-syria/palestinian-refugee-in-germany-allegedly-involved-in-syria-war-crimes . dead .
  38. Web site: EXCLUSIVE: The Syrian survivors who brought the 'Butcher of Yarmouk' to justice speak . The New Arab . 21 March 2023 . 18 March 2018.
  39. Web site: Festnahme eines mutmaßlichen Mitglieds der Miliz "Free Palestine Movement" wegen Kriegsverbrechen u.a. . Arrest of a suspected member of the "Free Palestine Movement" militia for war crimes, among other things. . . 4 August 2021 . 4 August 2021 . 4 August 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210804174817/https://www.generalbundesanwalt.de/SharedDocs/Pressemitteilungen/DE/aktuelle/Pressemitteilung-vom-04-08-2021.html . dead .
  40. Web site: Activists Warn Yarmouk Residents against Attempts to Turn Their Property into Bargaining Chips . Action Group for Palestinians of Syria . 27 July 2020 . 16 October 2023 . 20 September 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200920113045/https://www.actionpal.org.uk/en/post/10434/action-group-for-palestinians-of-syria/activists-warn-yarmouk-residents-against-attempts-to-turn-their-property-into-bargaining-chips . dead .

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Free Palestine Movement".

Except where otherwise indicated, Everything.Explained.Today is © Copyright 2009-2024, A B Cryer, All Rights Reserved. Cookie policy.