Following Killing Of Nasrallah In Israeli Raid: Palestinian Groups Condemn U.S. Involvement; Iran-Backed Yemen's Ansar Allah Movement, Iraqi Militias, Threaten To Fight Until 'Cancerous Entity' Is Removed, Palestine Liberated

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On September 28, 2024, Lebanese Hizbullah released a statement announcing that Secretary General Hassan Nasrallah had been killed in a "treacherous" Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) strike the day before, which hit the group's headquarters in Beirut's southern suburbs.

Once the news of Nasrallah's death was confirmed, Hamas's political leadership and its military wing, 'Izz Al-Din Al-Qassam, released statements eulogizing the slain Hizbullah leader and condemning the assassination. The statements blamed the U.S. administration for continuing to support Israel militarily and diplomatically, and for failing to condemn it. Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) praised Nasrallah for leaving "behind a legacy of thousands of cadres and fighters who were raised on the path of martyrdom and Palestine."

The Iran-backed Ansar Allah Houthi movement issued a brief statement from the group's spokesman, Muhammad Abdelsalam, saying that the death of Nasrallah will become a curse that will continue to haunt Israel "until it is uprooted." Meanwhile, leaders of Iran-backed Iraqi militias, the Asa'ib Ahl Al-Haq militia and Al-Nujaba Movement, noted that Hizbullah remains capable of running the battle beyond Lebanon if it "wishes to," and threatened to avenge the leader's death until Israel, "the cancerous gland," is removed.

Hamas: The U.S. Administration "Bears Responsibility" For Its Continued Silence And Support For Israel Politically, Diplomatically, And Militarily

In one of the earliest reactions to Nasrallah's assassination, Hamas considered the act of assassination to be a "cowardly, terrorist act" that indicates Israel's brutality and disregard for all international norms and charters.

"As we mourn His Eminence Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, we recall with pride and honor his profile, replete with sacrifices for the sake of liberating Jerusalem and the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque, as well as his honorable positions supporting our Palestinian people, our valiant resistance, and our legitimate rights," Hamas said.

"We affirm that the Zionist occupation bears full responsibility for this heinous crime and its dangerous repercussions on security and stability of the region," the statement continued, arguing that the U.S. administration "bears responsibility for its continued support for Israel politically, diplomatically, militarily, and for its failure to condemn it."

Further in the statement, Hamas stressed it renews its absolute solidarity with its brethren in Hizbullah and the Islamic Resistance in Lebanon, who, it said, joined the Palestinian people and the resistance groups in the "Al-Aqsa Flood battle in defense of Al-Aqsa Mosque, and the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people and their aspirations for freedom, independence, and self-determination."

"This is the path around which all the living forces of the nation, and its masses, and the free and honorable people of the world must rally," it declared.

Hamas concluded by saying that history has proven that whenever resistance leaders are killed, other "more valiant, stronger, and more determined" leaders step in "to continue the confrontation with this Zionist enemy," noting that Israel's acts "will only strengthen the resistance in Lebanon and Palestine until the occupation is defeated and victory is achieved."[2]

Hamas also published a photo showing slain Hamas and Hizbullah leaders Isma'l Haniyeh, Saleh Al-Arouri, and Hassan Nasrallah, with a caption suggesting that deceased leaders will soon be replaced by others of equal prominence.[3]

Hamas' Military Wing, 'Izz Al-Din Al-Qassam Brigades: After A Short-Lived "Euphoria," Israel Will Realize That It Is "Headed Towards Inevitable Demise" At The Hands Of The Mujahideen

Hamas's 'Izz Al-Din Al-Qassam Brigades mourned Nasrallah as a leader who topped the list of individuals wanted by Israel, and who made Hizbullah stronger and more powerful, saying: "His leadership of the party also constituted an important lever for the relationship with the Palestinian resistance, most notably the ['Izz Al-Din] Al-Qassam Brigades. During this period, he did not hesitate to provide all the support and expertise our resistance needed."

The statement further praised Nasrallah's position to stand by the Palestinian people during the Israel-Hamas war and his "categorical refusal" to cease support for the Gaza front, despite the great sacrifices made by Lebanon and the party.

'Izz Al-Din Al-Qassam Brigades asserted it remains confident Hizbullah will overcome the "great calamity" and appoint a competent leader who would continue on the path of Nasrallah, noting that Israel, which is living in a temporary state of "euphoria," will realize that it is "headed towards inevitable demise at the hands of the mujahideen and loyal sons of our nation."[4]

PIJ's Spokesman: Nasrallah Left Behind A "Blessed Legacy Of Tens Of Thousands Of Mujahideen, Cadres, And Leaders"

The PIJ spokesman Muhamamd Al-Haj Musa took to Telegram to pay tribute to Hizbullah's "martyr" and to extend condolences to the party and the people of Lebanon. He said that while the PIJ feels the pain of such significant loss, it also feels proud of the "blessed legacy of tens of thousands of mujahideen, cadres, and leaders who were raised on his path, on the path of martyrdom and Palestine."

He continued: "It is a great honor for His Eminence Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah to be martyred, facing the enemy and not showing his back in retreat. He was martyred in a never-before-seen position of support and advocacy for our Palestinian people, at a time when regimes and countries are falling into the trap of surrender before the enemy, under the name of normalization."

He stressed that the death of Nasrallah will only increase the strength and resolve of the resistance in Lebanon, Palestine, and the region, just as the martyrdom of Sayyed Abbas Al-Moussawi was the foundation of an era of victories against Israel in Lebanon, and as the martyrdom of Dr. Fathi Al-Shiqaqi and Sheikh Ahmed Yassin "provided the resistance with the will and determination to carry on the confrontation against the Zionist project."[5]

Yemen's Houthi Spokesman: Nasrallah's Death "Will Continue To Haunt Israel Until It Is Uprooted"

Yemen's Houthi movement posted a statement on its official Telegram account, from the group's spokesman Muhammad Abdelsalam, congratulating Nasrallah on achieving "what he wished for, the medal of martyrdom," following decades of "unequaled bravery in contemporary history."

He praised Nasrallah's "wise" leadership for having inflicted "successive defeats," on Israel, adding that his death would become a curse that will continue to haunt Israel "until it is uprooted."

"The pain of his departure will not weaken the resolve of his brothers after him, but rather will give them strength to continue on the path of resistance and jihad until final victory. This is Allah's promise, and Allah will never fail to fulfill His promise," he concluded.[6]

Iraqi Al-Nujaba Movement Leader: "Will Take Your Revenge With All Force Until The Entire Earth Is Cleansed Of The Impurities Of The Filthy Zionists"

Akram Al-Ka'abi, leader of the Iran-backed Iraqi Al-Nujaba Movement militia, posted a statement eulogizing the "heartbreaking" loss of Nasrallah, saying that in the face of such a loss, "we have what cools the fire of raging hearts, which is taking your revenge with all force until the entire earth is cleansed of the impurities of the filthy Zionists."

"Your pure blood that was shed to support your grandfather's religion will be the burning fire that will end tyranny," he added, noting that the killing of Nasrallah at the hands of the Jews is a shame on the pseudo-Islamists and a disgrace on the foreheads of the negligent rulers "who have become puppets in the hands of the brutal criminality represented by the evil trio: America, the U.K., and Israel."

He further argued that Hizbullah has been and will continue to be capable of administering the battle not only in Lebanon, but, "if it wishes, to expand it to include the entire region."[7]

Secretary-General Of The Asa'ib Ahl Al-Haq Militia: Fighting Will Continue Until The "Cancerous Gland Is Removed From The Body Of This Nation"

Qais Al-Khaz'ali, secretary-general of the Asa'ib Ahl Al-Haq militia, posted a statement eulogizing Nasrallah for an "honorable lifetime spent as a mujahid and a victorious leader, who inflicted bitter defeats on the occupying Zionists, and who had achieved victories the likes of which modern history had never witnessed."

Al-Khaz'ali pledged to Nasrallah "to continue in his path, to remain steadfast in his path, and to continue resisting the occupying enemies until the full goals, for which the earth was purified with pure blood, are achieved."

He further asserted that fighting against Israel would continue until Palestine is liberated and the "cancerous gland 'Israel' is removed from the body of this nation."[8]