Qassam Brigades - Order of Battle
The brigades divide the Gaza Strip into 5 areas that they call brigades: the Northern Brigade, the Gaza Brigade, the Central Brigade, the Khan Yunis Brigade, and the Rafah Brigade. Within the "brigades", there are 14 military formations, within which members work only in their field of specialization and receive intensive training. The units were announced by Hamas on various occasions and parades over the past years, though there are some variations in nomenclatures.
| Elite Commando Brigade | It is a ground soldier unit. |
| Air defense Brigade Wahdat Al-Difa' Al-Javviyah | known to posses DShK and ZPU-14.5 and 9K32 Strela-2 fire power. The commander, Issam Abu Rakba, was assassinated in the north on October 28, whose commander, Issam Abu Rakba, was announced by Israel on October 28. |
| Artillery Brigade Wahdat Al-Midfa'yah | creators of the Qassam Rocket, which was first used against Israel in 2001. |
| Shadow Brigade Wahdat Al-Zell | In 2016, it announced a new unit called the Shadow Unit had been formed, though it is not known when it was established. It is entrusted with the task of preserving the lives of Israeli prisoners in the Gaza Strip. It is also tasked with hiding militants wanted by Israeli authorities and the IDF. Larger presence in the West Bank. |
| Frog Unit / Naval Commando Al-Dhafadi' Al-Bashariat Al-Bahriah | It was announced in 2014 after the Qassam Brigades published a video of it sneaking across the sea towards the Israeli Zikim military base. It announced the first operation of the frogmen unit (naval commandos) while repelling the Zionist aggression on Gaza. The reason why the Israeli sea barrier was built in 2018 to stop this recurrence. |
| Sniper Brigade | |
| Martyrdom Brigade | The recent period has not witnessed activity by the suicide bomber unit, due to the movement’s refusal to carry out operations with explosive belts. |
| Support Brigade | |
| Communications Brigade | |
| Special Tasks Brigade Wahdat Al-Khassa | Ambush Brigade [? ]believed to be behind the Infiltration into Israel and kidnap Soldiers (Oron Shaul was kidnapped by this unit in 2014 ) |
| Engineering Brigade Wahdat Al-Hindisa | tasked with digging and creating tunnels |
| Manufacturing Brigade | charged with engineering development work, such as paragliding, rocket and missiles. |
| Anti-Armor Brigade Wahdat Al-Doru | Specializes in using shoulder-fired weapons that target armored vehicles, tanks, and troop carriers. Generally the one photographer when threatening the attacks against IDF Merkava armor. |
| Mobilization and Orientation Brigade | ["Packing and direction" unit] |
Brigades | Infantry Units Wahdat Al-Mushat |
| North Gaza Brigade  | Northern Brigade was estimated as of 2023 to contain 7 combat battalions, including the Elite Battalion. The Governate, with more than 430,000 residents, on a pro-rata basis would be expected to raise 5 battalions of a 27 battalion force. North Gaza Governorate extends for 10km (6 miles) and shares the only crossing into Israel through Beit Hanoon, also known as the Erez crossing. North Gaza is home to the Jabalia refugee camp, the largest in the strip.
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| Gaza City Brigade  |
Gaza City Brigade is considered the most significant brigade of Hamas. The battalion's terrorists took a significant part in the murderous massacre on October 7th. The two Gaza brigades were merged to form one brigade containing 7 combat battalions, including the Elite Battalion. The Governate, with more than 750,000 residents, on a pro-rata basis would be expected to raise 10 battalions of a 27 battalion force. Gaza City is the largest and most populous city within the Gaza Strip. Rimal, Shujaiya and Tel al-Hawa are among its most well-known neighborhoods.
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| Deir el-Balah Brigade  |
Central Camps Brigade / Al-Wusta Brigade / Deir el-Balah Brigade was estimated as of 2023 to contain 5 combat battalions, including the Elite Battalion. The Governate, with more than 310,000 residents, on a pro-rata basis would be expected to raise 4 battalions of a 27 battalion force.
Deir el-Balah Governorate is one of Gaza’s largest agricultural producers. It is also home to four refugee camps: Nuseirat, al-Bureij, al-Maghazi and Deir el-Balah. Gaza’s only operating power plant is located along the district’s boundary with Gaza City.
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| Khan Younis Brigade  |
Khan Yunis Brigade was estimated as of 2023 to contain 6 combat battalions, including the Elite Battalion. The Governate, with more than 430,000 residents, on a pro-rata basis would be expected to raise 5 battalions of a 27 battalion force. At its center is the Khan Younis refugee camp, where about 90,000 people live.
In 2005, nearly 8,000 Jewish settlers and Israeli soldiers living in 21 settlements around Gaza were relocated mostly to the occupied West Bank following a decision by then-Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon to unilaterally disengage from the Gaza Strip. Most of these settlements were in Khan Younis. Israel claimed its occupation of Gaza since 1967 has ended as it has pulled its troops and settlers from the territory but international law views Gaza as an occupied territory because Israel has full control over Gaza’s borders, airspace and territorial waters. |
| Rafah Brigade  |
Rafah Brigade was estimated as of 2023 to contain 5 combat battalions, including the Elite Battalion. The Governate, with more than 275,000 residents, on a pro-rata basis would be expected to raise 3 battalions of a 27 battalion force. Rafah Governorate is the southernmost district of Gaza. Rafah is also the name of the crossing with Egypt that is located here.
The district is best known for the crossing with Egypt that bears its name. Both Israel and Egypt have kept their borders largely shut, and are responsible for further deteriorating the already-weakened economic and humanitarian situation. In 2020, the Rafah crossing and the Erez crossing into Israel were open for only 125 days, according to the UN. Palestinians who wish to leave must apply for a limited number of passes to leave the Gaza Strip. This process may take weeks or months, depending on the status of the border. Those who are able to get through the Rafah crossing must then make a six-to-eight-hour journey through the Sinai Desert passing several Egyptian checkpoints on their way to Cairo, about 400km (250 miles) away. Rafah’s second crossing into Egypt is the Salah al-Din gate, which is used for transporting goods. The third crossing from Rafah is the Israeli-controlled Karem Abu Salem crossing, known as Kerem Shalom to Israelis. |
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