Tubas Brigade

Tubas Brigade
كتيبة طوباس
Other nameTubas Battalion
FounderAhmed Daraghmeh †
Dates activeJune 2022–present
IdeologyPalestinian nationalism
Anti-Zionism
Part of Al-Quds Brigades
 al-Qassam Brigades

The Tubas Brigade or Tubas Battalion (Arabic: كتيبة طوباس, romanized: Katībat Tûbâs) is a Palestinian militia in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, based in the city of Tubas. It encompasses militants from the Al-Quds Brigades of Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) and the Al-Qassam Brigades of Hamas.

The Tubas Brigade was founded in June 2022 by the militant Ahmed Daraghmeh, with the bulk of its members being former prisoners held by Israel. Its existence was announced by PIJ the following month, through anti-Zionist media channels, after the militia engaged Israel Defense Forces (IDF) troops that were raiding Tubas.

According to Mondoweiss, the Tubas Brigade, along with the Jenin Brigades, Tulkarm Brigade, and Lions' Den, have posed a significant challenge to Israeli security control in the West Bank. On 27 February 2024, the IDF killed Daraghmeh, who had been serving as the group's leader, and two Palestinian civilians during a raid into Tubas.

The Tubas Brigade is also an enemy of the Palestinian Authority (PA), which the Brigade says began actively persecuting them in May 2024. PA forces clashed with the Tubas Brigade during the July 2024 West Bank unrest. In October 2024, the PA launched a successful large-scale crackdown on the group, during which militants increased security precautions and relocated out of Tubas. Despite a mass surrender of Brigade members to the PA, the group remains intact and active in fighting against the IDF. The Tubas Brigade fought Israeli forces during the four-day Operation Five Stones.

References

  1. 1 2 "منفذ عملية حاجز تياسير الفدائية محمد دراغمة شقيق مؤسس كتيبة طوباس". العربي الجديد (in Arabic). Archived from the original on 2025-02-14. Retrieved 2025-03-03.
  2. ↑ Tahhan, Zena Al (13 September 2022). "The occupied West Bank cities at centre of resistance to Israel". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 2025-03-03.
  3. ↑ خاص, الجزيرة نت-. "معتقل سابق لدى السلطة وسمته الهدوء.. منفذ عملية حاجز تياسير". الجزيرة نت (in Arabic). Retrieved 2025-03-03.
  4. ↑ Truzman, Joe (2022-07-18). "Palestinian Islamic Jihad Purportedly Establishes New Formation in the West Bank". FDD's Long War Journal. Retrieved 2025-03-03.
  5. ↑ "سرايا القدس تعلن انطلاق كتيبة طوباس". www.alhadath.ps (in Arabic). 17 July 2022. Retrieved 2025-03-03.
  6. ↑ "The new status quo after Israel's assault on the northern West Bank". Mondoweiss. 2024-08-30. Retrieved 2025-03-03.
  7. ↑ "Israeli forces kill 3 Palestinians, including Tubas Brigade leader in northern West Bank". Mondoweiss. 2024-02-28. Retrieved 2025-03-03.
  8. ↑ rima.khalil. ""كتيبة طوباس": الأمن الفلسطيني يهددنا بالاغتيال والاعتقال". العربي الجديد (in Arabic). Archived from the original on 2024-11-08. Retrieved 2025-03-03.
  9. ↑ "آخرهم أبو شجاع.. قصص السلطة مع مقاومين تطاردهم إسرائيل". الجزيرة نت (in Arabic). Retrieved 2024-07-28.
  10. ↑ Sawafta, Ali (25 October 2024). "Palestinian Authority treads tightrope in West Bank crackdown on militants". Reuters.
  11. 1 2 "Israel's West Bank Incursions Highlight the Dilemmas of Palestinian Politics | Crisis Group". International Crisis Group. 2025-03-04. Retrieved 2025-03-09.
  12. ↑ "Clashes break out between Palestinian fighters and PA security forces in West Bank". The New Arab. 12 October 2024.
  13. ↑ "سرايا القدس-كتيبة طوباس: مقاتلونا في سرية طمون يتصدون لقوات الاحتلال". مصراوي.كوم (in Arabic). 29 March 2025. Retrieved 2025-03-31.
  14. ↑ "Al-Quds Brigades say they confronted Israeli forces' incursion in Tubas and hit vehicles". Middle East Eye. 26 November 2025. Retrieved 2025-11-29.
  15. ↑ "Israeli forces injure hundreds of Palestinians in raids on Tubas, West Bank". Al Jazeera. 29 November 2025. Retrieved 2025-11-30.