The Free Palestine Movement is a Palestinian Syrian armed
organization and community group best known to operate in Syria, Lebanon and
Gaza Strip. The movement was established in the year 2003 by Yasser Qashlaq who
is its leader; it is known to be a political activist, social aid to
Palestinians as well as involvement of its military troops especially in Syrian
civil war. It is an informative, timeless account of what the Free Palestine
Movement is, its history, actions, structure and the larger context which
includes the associated demonstrations.
Origins and Early Activities of the Free Palestine Movement
With a businesswoman, Yasser Qashlaq, who is also a
prominent Palestinian and Syrian businessman as its founder, the Free Palestine
Movement was based on serving the Palestinian population in Syria at the social
level as well as through advocacy. Qashlaq, producer or even leader of some
Palestinian organizations as well, introduced the movement as a political
conveyer to the Palestinian nationalism and anti-Zionism.
The group did little more than political activism and
support of Palestinian refugee camps before the year 2012, particularly the
Yarmouk Camp in Damascus. Once the Syrian Civil War erupted however, the
movement became militarized and formed armed groups to protect Palestinian
interests as well as act in support of the Syrian government.
Role During the Syrian Civil War
With the outbreak of the Syrian Civil War, the Free
Palestine Movement formed militias, notably the Al-Aqsa Shield Forces, to fight
alongside the Syrian Ba'athist government against various rebel factions. The
group desired to gain control over the Palestinian-infested areas which
comprised Yarmouk territories and as well as protective measures to the
refugees in the course of war.
The movement was engaged in most major combat; it was
involved in the campaigns in Damascus, Hama, Deir ez-Zor, and the northern
offensives. Its army generals e.g. Saed Abd Al-Aal were successful in the
battlefield. Fighters constituting the movement suffered serious losses with at
least twenty reported to be killed as at 2018.
Organizational Structure
Yasser Qashlaq heads the political movements of the Free
Palestine Movement while Saed Abd Al-Aal heads the paramilitary wing of the
movement. Armed groups such as Saraya Bader and the Abd al-Qadir al-Husayni
Battalions are incorporated in the armed factions. As with most pro-government
militias, the movement appealed to its recruits by paying salaries at a time
when there was large-scale economic deprivation as a result of the war.
Allegations of War Crimes and Controversies
Its military activities have seriously accused the group of
war crimes. Some members of the investigation charges against some members are
accused of targeting the civilians to make the long siege of Yarmouk Camp,
where there have been cases of extrajudicial killings and sexual crimes.
Remarkably, a former member, referred to as the Butcher of Yarmouk was arrested
and convicted under murder in a German court regarding crimes and murders committed
in the course of the conflict.
Also, scores of property transactions and economic affairs
in Yarmouk by the Free Palestine Movement have been criticized on threatened
residents to sell land cheaply due to reconstruction plans.
The Movement’s Political and Ideological Stance
The movement endorses the rejection of the State of Israelwith the ideas of Palestinian nationalism and anti-Zionism. The
officially conveyed attitude to the policies of Israel is extremely negative
and official reports of its authorities are concentrated on the rights of
Palestinians and their struggle.
The movement also supports the Syrian government and
Ba'athist ideology, working in cooperation with allied militias and state
forces to maintain territorial control and political influence in Palestinian
refugee areas.
The movement also supports the Syrian government and
Ba'athist ideology, working in cooperation with allied militias and state
forces to maintain territorial control and political influence in Palestinian
refugee areas.
What Is the Free Palestine Protest About?
The Palestinian demand of freedom, as a popular slogan of
Free Palestine, entails higher implications of international demands of
Palestinian self-determination rights and aspirations of ending Israeli occupation.
Although the Free Palestine Movement of Syria is a particular organization with
military and political tasks, the expression itself has turned into a mass
slogan that was employed in demonstrations all around the world.
The human rights, the cessation of settlements and a
peaceful resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict can often be supported
by activists who use the Free Palestine slogan. Nevertheless there are those
who interpret the slogan to be encouraging militant struggle as can be supported
by the militant activities of such groups as the Free Palestine Movement. The
context and the motives of the phrase may be very different, depending on who
says that.
Current Status and Developments
After the regime of Assad in Syria (2024), the transitional
regime required disarming and moving toward politics and humanitarian
activities. Persecution extending to those who supported the purported wartime
atrocities has even begun.
Nevertheless, there has been a
downturn in the movement and it still plays an important role in Palestine
communities in Syria and it continues to conduct limited activities such as
political events and solidarity demonstrations.
The Free Palestine Movement is a complicated organization
that combines political activism, community care and involvement in armed
conflict with Palestinian nationalist aspirations and geopolitics of the
region. It is an example of the struggle of the Palestinian diaspora,
particularly in war-torn areas such as Syria.
To comprehend the nature of the movement, it
is important to note its dualistic nature, i.e. it is a community-based
organization that defends the rights of Palestinians and, at the same time, a
group of fighters who participated in the conflict in Syria, as well as
scandals that surrounded the movement.
Other movements related to the protest of the Palestinian
cause adopt the slogan, which likewise manifests as a diverse expression of
chants espousing the Palestinian cause with different interests in peace,
justice, and resistance all over the world.