Tulkarm Brigade

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Tulkarm Brigade
Founder	Saif Abu Labdeh
Leaders	Amir Abu Khadijeh † Jihad Shehadeh † Saeed Izzat Jaber † Abu Shujaa X
Dates of operation	2022–present
Headquarters	Tulkarm
Active regions	Palestine  Israel
Ideology	Islamism[1] Jihadism[2] Palestinian self-determination Palestinian nationalism Anti-Zionism Anti-apartheid Anti-imperialism
Status	Active
Size	Around 175
Part of	Hamas  PIJ Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades (as Rapid Response Group)
Opponents	Israel Palestinian Authority
Battles and wars	Palestinian–Israeli conflict

The Tulkarm Brigade or Tulkarm Battalion (Arabic: كتيبة طولكرم, romanized: Kateeba Tulkarm) is a Palestinian militant group in the West Bank which is affiliated with various Palestinian political factions. The Tulkarm Brigade appeared first in March 2022 in the Palestinian city of Tulkarm in the West Bank, and is based in the city of Tulkarm and its camps. The battalion was established in late 2021 as a group for the Al-Quds Brigades, although it became independent in March 2022 with its founder Saif Abu Labdeh. Many fighters from Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades joined this group, and in early 2023 many Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades members joined the battalion under the name "Rapid Response Group" founded by Amir Abu Khadijeh.^[3]

On 30 May 2023, the group killed a 32-year-old illegal Israeli settler near the Hermesh settlement.^[4]

On 5 October 2023, the group clashed with Israeli forces attacking Tulkarm, resulting in 5 injuries, including 3 seriously injured.^[5]

On 19 October 2023, the group confronted Israeli forces attacking the Tulkarm refugee camp and the Nur Shams refugee camp, causing the death of 1 Israeli officer and 10 injuries.^[6][7]

On 23 March 2024, the group claimed to have infiltrated the occupied territories near Al-Deir Gate, attacking a vehicle and causing the deaths of at least 4 Israeli soldiers.^[8]

On 18 April 2024, Israeli forces launched a two day wide-scale incursion attack on the Nur Shams refugee camp of Tulkarm. The group engaged in clashes using homemade explosive devices and rifles. The IDF claimed 9 injuries among its forces, and at least 10 brigade members killed during the raid.^[9]

On May 29, 2024 the group led a series of attacks on the Bat Hefer community resulting in property damage.^[10] The group also claimed to infiltrate the community and raid a house, seizing a machine gun and pistol.^[11]

On 24 June 2024, the group remotely detonated two explosive devices targeting the Bat Hefer community. No casualties were reported.^[12]

On 1 July 2024, the group clashed with Israeli forces in the Nur Shams refugee camp. With a homemade explosive, the group managed to disable an Israeli Namer APC and an Israeli Panther armored vehicle, resulting in the death of 1 Israeli soldier and 1 severely injured.^[13]

On 17 July 2024, the group detonated an explosive near the Hermesh settlement, injuring 4 Israelis, including 2 off-duty soldiers and 2 settlers.^[14]

On 26 July 2024, various groups within the Tulkarm brigade declared a general mobilization in support of leader Abu Shujaa, who was allegedly besieged by the Palestinian Authority while receiving treatment at the Martyr Dr. Thabet Thabet Hospital. The mobilization prevented his arrest.^[15]

On 29 August 2024, Shujaa was killed alongside four other fighters during an Israeli attack in Nur Shams.^[16][17]