Izzat al-Rishq

Izzat al-Rishq is a Qatar-based founding member of Hamas’s Political Bureau who remains a high-level operative and international representative of the group. Izzat al Risheq, European Council on Foreign Relations, accessed January 27, 2022, https://ecfr.eu/special/mapping_palestinian_politics/izzat_al_risheq/. Rishq has served on numerous Hamas delegations to Muslim and Arab states. He also previously served as the head Hamas’s media department and 2006 electoral committee.Izzat al Risheq, European Council on Foreign Relations, accessed January 27, 2022, https://ecfr.eu/special/mapping_palestinian_politics/izzat_al_risheq/.

Rishq has been active on social media. Facebook has closed multiple iterations of Rishq’s accounts. On January 19, 2013, Rishq wrote a Facebook post denouncing Facebook for closing his accounts. Rishq labeled Facebook’s actions “arbitrary and unethical,” as well as biased. Izzat Al Risheq, Facebook post, January 19, 2013, https://www.facebook.com/izzat.alrisheq/posts/419158788163567. That version of Rishq’s account remained online as of April 2023, though it had not been publicly updated since 2013.Izzat Al Risheq, Facebook account, accessed April 2, 2023, https://www.facebook.com/izzat.alrisheq. He joined Twitter in January 2020 and had accrued more than 9,500 followers as of April 2, 2023.Izzat al-Rishq, Twitter account, accessed April 2, 2023, https://twitter.com/reshiq_i.

Rishq attended Kuwait University and graduated in 1983.Izzat Al Risheq, Facebook account, accessed January 27, 2022, https://www.facebook.com/izzat.alrisheq. In 1996, Jordan arrested Rishq for his involvement with Hamas and then expelled him to Qatar in 1999.Izzat al Risheq, European Council on Foreign Relations, accessed January 27, 2022, https://ecfr.eu/special/mapping_palestinian_politics/izzat_al_risheq/. Rishq moved to Syria in 2001. He returned to Qatar in 2012 after the outbreak of Syria’s civil war.Izzat al Risheq, European Council on Foreign Relations, accessed January 27, 2022, https://ecfr.eu/special/mapping_palestinian_politics/izzat_al_risheq/.

Hamas has included Rishq in multiple high-level international negotiations. On August 5, 2014, a ceasefire ended three months of conflict between Hamas and other Palestinian factions against Israel. Between June and August, Hamas fired more than 2,200 rockets toward Israel. Rishq participated in the ceasefire talks with Israel that eventually ended the confrontation. Elhanan Miller, “Hamas and Fatah: The rift,” Times of Israel, August 19, 2014, https://www.timesofisrael.com/hamas-and-fatah-the-rift/; Yasmine Saleh and Lin Noueihed, “Israel, Hamas Militants Begin 72-Hour Truce,” Chicago Tribune, August 5, 2014, http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-israel-hamas-gaza-truce-20140804-story.html; Adnan Aby Amer, “Hamas Readies for Israeli Ground Offensive with Tunnels, Traps,” Al-Monitor, July 9, 2014, http://www.al-monitor.com/pulseen/originals/2014/07/palestine-gaza-hamas-preparations-israel-ground-offensive.html. In August 2017, Rishq met with Iranian Strategic Research Center director Ali Akbar Velayati and Iranian parliamentary speaker Ali Larijani in Tehran. Larijani told Rishq solidarity is essential among Muslims to be able to stand against their enemies. Rishq declared Hamas’s determination to have closer relations with Iran, Syria, Hezbollah, and Palestinian Islamic Jihad. “Iran’s Leader stresses fighting as only way to save Palestine,” Mehr News Agency, August 8, 2017, https://en.mehrnews.com/news/126967/Iran-s-Leader-stresses-fighting-as-only-way-to-save-Palestine.

Rishq has also participated in multiple Hamas delegations meeting with the Qatari leadership in that country. On December 16, 2019, Rishq participated in a Hamas delegation meeting with Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al-Thani in the Qatari capital of Doha. According to Hamas, the delegation briefed Al-Thani on recent political developments, including Palestinian refugees, Israeli settlements, and Jerusalem.“Senior Hamas delegation meets with Qatar emir,” Middle East Monitor, December 17, 2019, https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20191217-senior-hamas-delegation-meets-with-qatar-emir/. A January 10, 2021, Hamas delegation led by Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh met with Al-Thani in Doha. The delegation also included Hamas leaders Moussa Abu Marzouk, Mohammed Nazzal, Maher Obeid, Husam Badran, and Zaher Jabareen. The delegation discussed Qatari efforts to promote Palestinian unity.“Senior Hamas delegation meets with Qatar emir,” Middle East Monitor, December 17, 2019, https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20191217-senior-hamas-delegation-meets-with-qatar-emir/.

Rishq is also involved in prisoner and ceasefire negotiations with Israel. In June 2021, he joined Hamas’s negotiating team in Cairo for discussions on a prisoner exchange agreement with Israel.Khaled Abu Toameh, “Hamas military commanders invited to Cairo for prisoner swap talks,” Jerusalem Post, June 9, 2021, https://www.jpost.com/arab-israeli-conflict/hamas-military-commanders-invited-to-cairo-for-prisoner-swap-talks-670529. In April 2022, Rishq claimed Hamas and Israel were in negotiations to avoid a renewed conflict. But, calling Jerusalem and the Al-Aqsa Mosque a red line, Rishq warned any aggression toward Jerusalem or Al-Aqsa would be met with “confrontation.”“Hamas 'working to avoid escalation' with Israel,” TRT World, April 16, 2022, https://www.trtworld.com/middle-east/hamas-working-to-avoid-escalation-with-israel-56413. Rishq has also been critical of the Palestinian Authority for maintaining security cooperation with Israel. Following December 2022 arrest raids by Israeli and Palestinian forces in the West Bank, Rishq questioned how the Palestinian Authority could continue to associate with Israel.Izzat al-Rishq, Twitter post, December 13, 2022, 3:00 p.m., https://twitter.com/reshiq_i/status/1602755426931589123.

On May 8, 2022, in the aftermath of an April 29 Hamas attack on the West Bank settlement of Ariel that killed one and an unclaimed May 5 attack in the Israeli city of Elad that killed three, the Times of London reported Israeli officials had told foreign allies the Jewish state would restart targeted killings of Hamas leaders abroad if such attacks continued. The Times speculated Israel would target deputy leader Saleh al-Arouri and Zaher Jabarin, responsible for financing Hamas’s international networks. Hamas issued broad threats of rocket attacks and suicide bombers if Israel began targeting its leaders.Anshel Pfeffer, “Israel ‘will assassinate Hamas leaders if terror attacks continue,’” Times (London), May 8, 2022, https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/israel-will-assassinate-hamas-leaders-if-terror-attacks-continue-m7xc9cnln; Khaled Abu Toameh, “Terror groups threaten rocket strikes if Israel resumes targeted killings,” Jerusalem Post, last updated May 8, 2022, https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-706080; “Hamas vows suicide bombings, ‘unprecedented response’ if Israel targets its leaders,” Times of Israel, May 7, 2022, https://www.timesofisrael.com/hamas-vows-suicide-bombings-unprecedented-response-if-israel-targets-its-leaders/. While Rishq threatened “immediate war” if Israel attempted to assassinate the group’s Gaza leader, Yahya Sinwar.“Hamas Threatens Israel with ‘Immediate War’ if it Attempted to Assassinate Sinwar,” Asharq al-Awsat (London), May 8, 2022, https://english.aawsat.com/home/article/3633911/hamas-threatens-israel-immediate-war-if-it-attempted-assassinate-sinwar.

Rishq continues to play a central role in Hamas’s international diplomacy. In 2014, Rishq was part of Hamas’s negotiating team in talks with Fatah, the primary party of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) and controlling party of the Palestinian Authority (PA).Joel Greenburg, “Israel, Hamas extend cease-fire five days,” Philadelphia Inquirer, August 14, 2014, https://www.inquirer.com/philly/news/nation_world/20140814_Israel__Hamas_extend_cease-fire_five_days.html. On December 16, 2021, Rishq joined a Hamas delegation that met with Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al-Thani. The delegation briefed the emir on the “latest political developments, especially those related to strategic issues, above all Jerusalem, settlement activity, Palestinian refugees and the dangers posed to the Palestinian cause, in addition to attempts by some sides to politically liquidate it.”“Senior Hamas delegation meets with Qatar emir,” Middle East Monitor, December 17, 2019, https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20191217-senior-hamas-delegation-meets-with-qatar-emir/. In June 2021, Rishq joined a Hamas delegation in Cairo to negotiate with Egyptian intelligence officials on a prisoner exchange agreement with Israel.Khaled Abu Toameh, “Hamas military commanders invited to Cairo for prisoner swap talks,” Jerusalem Post, June 9, 2021, https://www.jpost.com/arab-israeli-conflict/hamas-military-commanders-invited-to-cairo-for-prisoner-swap-talks-670529. In March 2023, Rishq joined a Hamas delegation to Moscow for high-level meetings with Russian government officials. According to Hamas, the meeting included discussion of Israeli settlements and settler violence. Hamas reaffirmed its commitment to violent resistance to Israel. According to Hamas, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov expressed Russia’s unwavering support for Palestinian rights.“Hamas delegation meets with Russian deputy foreign minister in Moscow,” Hamas, March 16, 2023, https://hamas.ps/en/post/4624/Hamas-delegation-meets-with-Russian-deputy-foreign-minister-in-Moscow.

On October 7, 2023, Hamas launched a mass attack on Israel, sending thousands of fighters into Israeli towns and military bases within 15 miles of the Gaza border while simultaneously launching a rocket barrage toward Israel.Josef Federman and Issam Adwan, “Hamas surprise attack out of Gaza stuns Israel and leaves hundreds dead in fighting, retaliation,” Associated Press, October 7, 2023, https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-gaza-hamas-rockets-airstrikes-tel-aviv-11fb98655c256d54ecb5329284fc37d2; Josef Federman and Issam Adwan, “Hamas surprise attack out of Gaza stuns Israel and leaves hundreds dead in fighting, retaliation,” Associated Press, October 7, 2023, https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-gaza-hamas-rockets-airstrikes-tel-aviv-11fb98655c256d54ecb5329284fc37d2. Hamas killed at least 1,200 people and captured approximately 240 civilian and military hostages.Josef Federman and Issam Adwan, “Hamas surprise attack out of Gaza stuns Israel and leaves hundreds dead in fighting, retaliation,” Associated Press, October 7, 2023, https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-gaza-hamas-rockets-airstrikes-tel-aviv-11fb98655c256d54ecb5329284fc37d2; “Israel revises Hamas attack death toll to ‘around 1,200,’” Reuters, November 10, 2023, https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/israel-revises-death-toll-oct-7-hamas-attack-around-1200-2023-11-10/. Hamas labeled the attack Operation Al-Aqsa Flood.“Operation Al Aqsa Flood,” Hamas Online Telegram Channel, October 7, 2023. Following the attack, Israel issued an official declaration of war against Hamas and vowed to cripple the terrorist organization.Tia Goldenberg and Wafaa Shurafa, “Israel declares war, bombards Gaza and battles to dislodge Hamas fighters after surprise attack,” Associated Press, October 8, 2023, https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-gaza-hamas-rockets-airstrikes-tel-aviv-ca7903976387cfc1e1011ce9ea805a71. Rishq has accused Israel of fabricating claims of Hamas atrocities on October 7. Rishq also accused the international media of spreading lies about Hamas’s actions on October 7.Anjuman Rahman, “Israel has yet to tell a single truth not only since 7 October, but since the 1948 Nakba,” Middle East Monitor, November 20, 2023, https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20231120-israel-has-yet-to-tell-a-single-truth-not-only-since-7-october-but-since-the-1948-nakba/. According to Rishq, Hamas’s fighters are “either destined for victory or martyrdom.”Hamas statement, Hamas Online Telegram Channel, December 10, 2023. In late December 2023, Rishq rejected an Egyptian proposal for a permanent ceasefire in Gaza in exchange for Hamas relinquishing power there.Ahmed Mohamed Hassan and Nidal Al-Mughrabi, “Hamas, Islamic Jihad reject Gaza gov. overhaul for permanent ceasefire, Egyptian sources say,” Reuters, December 25, 2023, https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/hamas-islamic-jihad-reject-giving-up-power-return-permanent-ceasefire-egyptian-2023-12-25/. He has praised Hamas’s attack and what he has called the enduring Palestinian spirit, which is “unfamiliar with the concepts of surrender or defeat.”Hamas statement, Hamas Online Telegram Channel, December 10, 2023.

Also Known As

Extremist entity
Hamas
Read Threat Report
Type(s) of Organization:
Political, religious, social service provider, terrorist, violent
Ideologies and Affiliations:
Islamist, jihadist, Muslim Brotherhood-affiliated group, pan-Islamist, Qutbist, Sunni
Position(s):
Member of Hamas Political Bureau

Hamas is a U.S.-designated terrorist organization which has killed hundreds of Israeli citizens, as well as Americans, in suicide bombings and other terrorist attacks. Hamas has governed the Gaza Strip since it violently expelled the Palestinian Authority in 2007. 

  • Rhetoric

Dec. 10, 2023

“The Zionist occupation’s staged theatrics, featuring unarmed civilians in Gaza, having been detained and surrounded by placed weapons, represent a desperate and transparent ploy.

“The occupation’s claims linking these unarmed detainees to the Al-Qassam Brigades lack authenticity and are steeped in falsehood, failing to garner any credence within the realm of truth and reality. Such proclamations are mere illusions that find no purchase in the discerning minds of those observing. The occupiers are ill-acquainted with the indomitable spirit of the resistance heroes emerging unexpectedly from unconventional quarters, consistently fortifying their positions against incursions, ensuring the Israeli soldiers and their commanders pay the price, and steadfastly targeting settlements. They are the fighters for nation and the cause of Allah, unfamiliar with the concepts of surrender or defeat. Their enduring motto remains: ‘It is Jihad, we are either destined for victory or martyrdom.’”Hamas statement, Hamas Online Telegram Channel, December 10, 2023.

Dec. 1, 2023

“The American administration has not only given the green light to this Zionist aggression and the war of genocide and ethnic cleansing against our people, but has always positioned itself as a loyal advocate for (Israel) in all stages of its aggression and terrorism. Today, it brazenly repeats the Zionist lies, which hold Hamas responsible for resuming the war and not extending the humanitarian truce.”Tom O’Connor, “Hamas Takes Aim at Biden as Truce Gives Way to New Fighting in Gaza,” Newsweek, December 1, 2023, https://www.newsweek.com/hamas-biden-truce-fighting-gaza-1848905.

Feb. 6, 2023

“The crime of the Zionist enemy’s siege of Jericho and its massacre today in Aqabat Jabr camp will not break the will of our people and the steadfastness of our revolting children in the face of the occupation’s aggression and the crimes of its settlers.

#أقمار_أريحا” (tweet)Izzat al-Rishq, Twitter post, February 6, 2023, 9:52 a.m., https://twitter.com/reshiq_i/status/1622609292565045248.

Jan. 27, 2023

“Our rebellious people and youth are capable of responding by all means to the occupation's encroachment and its declared war against our land, people, and sanctities.”Izzat al-Rishq, Twitter post, January 27, 2023, 3:36 p.m., https://twitter.com/reshiq_i/status/1619071941524209664.

Dec. 27, 2022

“We will protect every inch of our blessed land, and we will sacrifice Jerusalem and the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque with sacrifices and lives, and the crimes of settlement, Judaization and land theft will not succeed in obliterating its historical features and Palestinian identity.” Izzat al-Rishq, Twitter post, December 27, 2022, 6:09 a.m., https://twitter.com/reshiq_i/status/1607695257646366722.

May 8, 2022

“Sovereignty and legitimacy over historic Palestine resides only with the Palestinian people, who will protect every inch of their homeland, above all Jerusalem and the Al-Aqsa Mosque, and will continue comprehensive resistance until liberation, return, and establishing their independent state with Jerusalem as its capital.”“Hamas rejects Israeli occupation PM's statements on sovereignty over Jerusalem, Al-Aqsa,” Hamas, May 8, 2022, https://hamas.ps/en/post/4027/Hamas-rejects-Israeli-occupation-PM-s-statements-on-sovereignty-over-Jerusalem-Al-Aqsa.

Mar. 4, 2022

“Australia’s designating Hamas as a ‘terrorist organization,’ preceded by Britain and all the countries that support the occupation, depend on the unfounded Zionist narration, participate in the occupation’s constant terrorism, and practice a policy of double standards in dealing with the Palestinian just cause.”“Australia’s accusations hostage to Zionist narrative, says Hamas official,” Hamas, March 4, 2022, https://hamas.ps/en/post/3952/Australia-s-accusations-hostage-to-Zionist-narrative-says-Hamas-official.

Aug. 2017

“We are determined to have closer relations with our friends like Iran, Syria, Hamas, Hezbollah and Islamic Jihad Movement in Palestine to stand against enemies.”https://en.irna.ir/news/82624213/Larijani-underscores-solidarity-to-stand-against-enemies.

Jan. 24, 2014

“The target of the resistance is the Zionist enemy and it will not be distracted by side issues. The movement has made it very clear over the years that its struggle is against Israel and nobody else.” Izzat Al Rishq, “Media lies harm only the media, not Hamas,” Middle East Monitor, January 24, 2014, https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20140124-media-lies-harm-only-the-media-not-hamas/.

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On May 8, 2019, Taliban insurgents detonated an explosive-laden vehicle and then broke into American NGO Counterpart International’s offices in Kabul. At least seven people were killed and 24 were injured.

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