Al-Qassam Brigades
The Al-Qassam Brigades is the military wing of the Hamas terror organization. Responsible for the October 7, 2023 massacre, the group is currently facing a coordinated international and Israeli demand for total disarmament, including the decommissioning of its tunnel infrastructure and light weaponry, as a prerequisite for any IDF withdrawal from the Gaza Strip.
The Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades serve as the primary armed force of Hamas in the Gaza Strip. Since the group's violent takeover of the territory in 2007, the Brigades have built an extensive military infrastructure designed for asymmetric warfare against Israel, characterized by a massive underground tunnel network and rocket production capabilities. Following the unprecedented atrocities committed by its operatives on October 7, 2023, the Brigades have been the primary target of the IDF's campaign to dismantle Hamas's military and governing authority.
As of September 2026, the organization is at a critical juncture. International mediators, specifically the Gaza Peace Council led by Nikolay Mladenov, have significantly hardened their stance toward the group. Following high-level consultations with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the Council issued a directive requiring the Brigades to completely decommission all weaponry—ranging from heavy assets to individual rifles—and neutralize their tunnel networks before the IDF commences any withdrawal. This represents a strategic shift from earlier frameworks that suggested a phased disarmament. The process is slated for oversight by the International Stabilization Force (ISF) and the International Verification Force (IVF).
Recent operations have significantly degraded the group's command structure. In September 2026, reports emerged of the elimination of the Rafah Brigade commander, alongside the death of Farah Hamed, a senior commander on the Military Council responsible for operations in Judea and Samaria. Furthermore, investigations by the USAID Office of Inspector General have exposed deep ties between the Brigades and UNRWA, identifying over 100 staff members—including a deputy school principal—who served as combat commanders within the Al-Qassam ranks. Despite these pressures, the group continues to navigate a 14-day conditional framework involving a pause in targeted killings in exchange for a halt in military training, while the Israeli security establishment remains skeptical of the group's willingness to fully surrender its remaining arsenal.