At a February 4, 2015 political conference in Gaza, Dr. Mahmoud Al-Zahar, from the Hamas political leadership, called on Syria and Lebanon to enable the establishment of military cells subordinate to Hamas’s military wing, the ‘Izz Al-Din Al-Qassam Brigades, in refugee camps on their soil “so that they can run the resistance from northern Palestine [as well] and participate with us in its liberation.”[1]

This statement by a high-ranking Hamas official shows that the movement intends to open a second front against Israel from Syria and Lebanon, which it has thus far refrained from doing.

Following Al-Zahar’s statements, ‘Emad Zaqout, news division chief at Hamas’s Al-Aqsa TV, wrote in an article titled “What is the Secret of Dr. Al-Zahar’s Statement?” that Hamas wants every conflict with Israel to be all-out, and to include attacks on Israel from its northern border as well. Zaqout even revealed that during the recent Gaza conflict, rockets had been launched into Israel from Lebanon by elements operated by the Al-Qassam Brigades.

Following are excerpts from his article:

“In the recent Gaza war, which lasted some two months, the Al-Qassam Brigades operated several groups in Arab countries bordering occupied Palestine, so that they could launch some rockets at cities in northern occupied Palestine and cause confusion in the assessments of the Zionist enemy.

“It seems that Hamas’s leadership thinks, and is planning, that every future war against the Zionist enemy will be all-out, meaning that it will encompass every inch of land in Palestine, and make matters difficult for the enemy. The leadership began preparing for this immediately after the Gaza campaign, and possibly even during it.

“In this context, ties were renewed between Hamas and Hizbullah, which motivated Dr. Mahmoud Al-Zahar, a member of Hamas’s political leadership, to state at a political conference recently held by Hamas’s information office in northern Gaza that the movement is working to establish groups belonging to the Al-Qassam Brigades in Lebanese refugee camps close to northern Palestine.

“I believe that Al-Zahar’s statements were made in coordination with high-ranking Hizbullah officials. Also worthy of mention is the letter sent by the fighting [Al-Qassam Brigades commander] Muhammad Deif to Hizbullah secretary-general Hassan Nasrallah, asking him for crossfire in occupied Palestine from the resistance.

“The question is whether Dr. Al-Zahar’s statements also apply to the Palestinian presence in Syria, Jordan, and even Egypt.”[2]