Al-Qassam Brigades - Today marks the second anniversary of Said al-Quds (The Sword of Jerusalem) battle which was sparked by the Israeli occupation's aggression against occupied Jerusalem's Sheikh Jarrah neighbourhood and Muslim worshippers at the Al-Aqsa Mosque. Palestinian resistance factions, including the al-Qassam Brigades, rose up in response, demonstrating their heroic resistance and determination to protect their land and people.

Ultimatum and Warning by Al-Qassam Chief of Staff

The Ezzedeen Al-Qassam Brigades had been closely monitoring the situation, and on May 4, 2021, the Brigades' Chief of Staff, Mohammed Deif, issued an ultimatum to the Israeli occupation forces to withdraw from occupied Jerusalem and the holy Al-Aqsa Mosque compound. However, the Israeli occupation failed to comply, and on May 10, 2021, the military wing of Hamas launched a barrage of land-based missiles towards Israeli positions in occupied Jerusalem, marking the start of the Saif Al-Quds battle.

Human Loss and Mass Destruction of Residential Buildings

Shocked by the heroic Palestinian resistance, the Israeli occupation launched hundreds of airstrikes on the Gaza Strip, targeting residential buildings, civilian infrastructure, and governmental facilities. The attacks resulted in the complete destruction of thousands of homes and left tens of thousands of Palestinians homeless. The United Nations estimated that around 800,000 people, or almost half of Gaza's population, were affected by the attacks, with many forced to take shelter in schools, mosques, and other crowded areas.

Al-Qassam Brigades' Control over the Battle

During the 11-day offensive against the besieged Gaza Strip, the al-Qassam Brigades was in control of the battle, issuing orders to the Israeli occupation authorities, including the imposition of a curfew in some illegal colonial settlements across occupied Palestine. The Palestinian resistance faction used homemade weapons, including the "Ayyash 250" missile, named after Qassam leader Yahya Ayyash, and unveiled the "Shehab" drone, which carried out several missions, including targeting the Israeli gas rigs at sea off the shore of northern Gaza. The Al-Zawari drone, named after Tunisian engineer Mohammed Al-Zawari, was also utilized for reconnaissance flights.

Victory of the Resistance and Political Failure of the Occupation Government

The battle culminated in a victory for the Palestinian resistance, as Gaza declared its strength and valour. Zionist political and military analysts recognized the political and military failure of the occupation government, as well as the fragility of its internal front. The Israeli occupation forces suffered a significant loss of life and injuries. The resistance factions in Palestine, including the Al-Qassam Brigades, proved the failure of the Zionist deterrence theory.

The Sword of Jerusalem battle will remain a symbol of heroic resistance against the Israeli occupation in Palestine. It showed the world the determination of the Palestinian people to fight for their legitimate rights and their land. The Al-Qassam Brigades and other resistance factions proved that they would always be ready to defend their people and their land at any cost, and their series of responses to the Israeli occupation aggression would not stop until it ended.