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Investigation: Hamas is Collaborating with Senior Members of the Syrian Rebels

HaKol HaYehudi Investigation: Senior leaders of the new Syrian regime attended a memorial for Sinwar, marched in support of the Oct. 7th attacks, and incited at mosques calling for their fighters to free Jerusalem. Hamas’ aims in Syria are tightly bound with those of the new regime.

  • Elchanan Groner, Hakol Hayehudi
  • ט"ו טבת תשפ"ה - 14:07 15/01/2025
גודל: א א א

Two people in suits and ties at a memorial held in Idlib, Syria in memory of Yahya Sinwar around two months stood out from the crowd of sheikhs and locals in attendance.

HaKol HaYehudi’s analysis finds that one of the two individuals is the head of the Shura Council of the Syrian rebels Dr. Mustafa Musa. He is considered one of the most powerful people in Syria today and is very close to leader Julani. In practice, the council appoints the ministers including the Prime Minister.

The second individual is Ali Kada, who served for 5 years as the head of the rebel government in Idlib and who lately can be seen together with Julani at multiple meetings and is a key figure in the new government. 

The two individuals were also seen together at other events organized by the “Palestine Authority for Relief and Development”- a group that advances Hamas’ interests in Syria in collaboration with the Idlib government. 

This group served as the focal point of our investigation as we tried to understand the extent of Hamas’ connections to the new Syrian government and gauge whether the calls to ‘conquer Jerusalem’ are mere blustering or something to be taken seriously.

Hamas in Full

HaKol HaYehudi’s investigation revealed that Hamas's extensive activities in Syria are carried out in collaboration with the heads of the rebel groups currently in charge. Much of this is activity is routed through the Palestine Authority for Relief and Development, the primary conduit for Hamas.

The organization emerged over a decade ago in the Al-Yarmouk refugee camp in Damascus a central area during the Syrian civil war that changed hands multiple times, forcing its residents to flee.

Yahya Khourani (Abu Suhaib), the head of development and training at the Authority, served Hamas’ leader in the Yarmouk camp until he was assassinated in 2015 during the camp's occupation by ISIS and Jabhat al-Nusra.

Many Hamas affiliates from the camp relocated north to Idlib, which was controlled by Julani and his forces from Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS).

After several name changes, the "Palestine Authority for Relief and Development" now oversees Hamas's da'wah (religious propaganda) network and has gained influence especially in Idlib, where the rebels have held control for some time.

Following Syria’s liberation from the Assad regime, Hamas is increasing its efforts and refocusing on the southern border with Israel. 

The “Gaza" School and Killing Jews


The Palestine Authority for Relief and Development organizes numerous activities including Hamas rallies, demonstrations, events honoring Hamas leaders, and educational programs across Syria aimed at inculcating Hamas’ ideology among Syrian children. These activities are carried out in collaboration with senior Hamas officials, especially those in Turkey.

Among others, the authority holds commemorations for "Land Day," "Nakba Day," and "Prisoners' Day." Going back over a decade, one can find maps of Israel with the Hamas logo, as well as images of Hamas founders Ahmed Yassin and Abdel Aziz al-Rantisi, who were assassinated by Israel, shown prominently at "Prisoners' Day" events.

Flags and banners of Hamas's military wing, the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, are also featured in the organization's marches and ceremonies.

In recent years, the Authority has increased its educational work. For instance, about two months ago, it inaugurated a school named "Gaza" in the village of Harza in the Idlib region. During the school's inauguration ceremony, a theatrical performance was staged in which children dressed as Hamas militants killed "Zionist soldiers" and captured one as a prisoner.

The Authority also held a memorial service for Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh following his assassination in Tehran.

Images of Jewish Hostages and Speeches by Abu Ubaida


The Hamas support rallies organized by the Authority have intensified since the outbreak of the war. Participants can be seen waving flags of Hamas's military wing, the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, and scarfs in honor of "Tufan al-Aqsa" (the Aqsa Flood). Other scarves are inscribed with slogans such as "Jerusalem is ours – Jerusalem, we are coming."

The Authority’s annual commemorations of "Nakba Day" feature a large model of the Temple Mount with pro-Hamas materials.

For example, at the 75th Nakba Day event, there were wall-sized posters commemorating Hamas kidnappings over the year including of soldiers Avi Sasportas, Ilan Saadon, Alon Kervani, and Nissim Toledano, as well as images of Nachshon Wachsman, Gilad Shalit, Hadar Goldin, and Oron Shaul.

These events aim to teach Syrian children the names of Jewish soldiers abducted by Hamas— names that even in Israel are not as well known anymore  such as Alon Kervani and Ilan Saadon.
At children's events across Syria, the Authority broadcasts speeches of Hamas spokesperson Abu Ubaida, along with reenactments of "heroic battles" by Hamas fighters, including scenes from the Oct. 7th massacre.

These efforts have now expanded geographically into regions close to the Israeli border.

Authority Director Speaks Alongside Hamas Military Wing Banner


The Director of the Authority, whose current title refers to him as the head of its political department, is Mohammed Saadi—a prominent Hamas figure and one of its senior operatives in Syria.


His Facebook cover photo features the Hamas flag, and he recently held an open forum discussing the strategy behind "Tufan al-Aqsa" (the Al-Aqsa Flood operation that led to the Oct. 7th Massacre).

His Twitter and Facebook accounts are filled with Hamas content and support for terrorists. Among others, he posted a tribute glorifying the perpetrators of the Jaffa terror attack in November. He also maintains ties with senior Hamas officials in Turkey and recently spoke about his close relationship, Nasser Abu Malouh, a Hamas leader who recently passed away in Jordan due to illness.

At many commemorations organized by the Authority, a large banner of Hamas's military wing, the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, is prominently displayed. The banner was in the background during a speech by Mohammed Saadi, during a broadcast of a recorded address by Hamas spokesperson Abu Ubaida, and was used as a backdrop for children to take photographs with scarves of the "Al-Qassam Brigades" and "Tufan al-Aqsa."

At one event organized by the Authority in the town of Atmeh in northern Syria to mark the beginning of the Al-Aqsa flood a massive banner was displayed on stage. The banner featured a large image of Hamas leader Ahmed Yassin alongside various terrorists, including Hamas spokesperson Abu Ubeida, with the inscription:
"Yassin – your planting has born fruit, and liberation is near – Al-Aqsa Flood."

Embedded Within the Rebel Army


Many of the Authority’s events are attended not only by senior political officials of the rebel government but also military officers, sheikhs leading the rebel government, and other figures who now have considerable power in the new Syria.

For example, at one event, several rebel commanders who recently led battles in Syria’s liberation took the stage.

Islamic clerics associated with the rebels also frequently appear as speakers at the Authority’s pro-Hamas events. One such figure seen at dozens of these events is Sheikh Wael Ahmad Abu Mustafa al-Julani, considered one of the leading Sheikhs of the rebels. 

In one image, Sheikh Mustafa is seen wearing military fatigues during a Friday sermon after the Syrian rebels’ victory. The sermon garnered over a million views on social media.

In collaboration between the Authority and the rebel government, a "Gaza Square" was established in central Idlib. The square was created in support of Hamas’s massacre and features an image of a terrorist parachuting onto the Temple Mount, a massive depiction of a Muslim soldier conquering the Temple Mount, and flags of Palestine and Syria, alongside the inscription:
"Our goal is one, and our mission is shared."

Mustafa is a key link between Hamas, speaking at the Authority’s Hamas-affiliated events and as well as speaking to rebel soldiers at military events, where he often wears a military uniform.

Given this tendency, he has been referred to as "The Mujahid Sheikh" (The Warrior Sheikh).

Jerusalem, We Are Coming

One of the major questions following the upheaval in Syria is the role Hamas may have in the new Syria. Hamas previously maintained a headquarters in Damascus but sided with the Sunni rebels during the Syrian civil war that broke out in 2011. This led to the expulsion of Khaled Mashal and the entire Hamas leadership in Damascus from the country.

In 2022, a meeting was held between Ismail Haniyeh, senior Hamas official Khalil al-Hayya, and Bashar al-Assad in an attempt to improve relations. This meeting sparked outrage among the rebels and the "Palestine Relief and Development Authority" issued a sharp condemnation of the meeting, clarifying its allegiance to the rebels. 

Adding to the complexity of Hamas’ potential role in Syria is Turkey, which supported the rebels against Assad. The "Palestine Relief and Development Authority" maintains numerous connections with Turkey, which can be seen in a February 2024 event in Afrin, near the Turkish border, where numerous senior Turkish officials attended. The event, titled "Palestine in our Heart,” was organized by the Authority and contained an exhibit that included a painting of a terrorist in Gaza firing an anti-tank missile at an Israeli tank.

For Israel, the key question is will Israel wait for the jihadist regime in Syria to arm itself under Turkey's sponsorship or will it persist with its policy of dismantling Syria’s military and limiting the capabilities of the new regime, thus thwarting Hamas’ potential partnership with the rebels.
 

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