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Ali Baraka
Hamas Representative in Lebanon
In office
2011–2019
Preceded by Osama Hamdan
Succeeded by Ahmed Abd al-Hadi
Personal details
OccupationSenior Hamas official, Head of Hamas National Relations Abroad
Known forOversees the group's foreign relations

Ali Abed Al Rahman Baraka ( Arabic: علي بركة) is a senior Hamas official based in Beirut, Lebanon. As the Palestinian militant group's head of Department of National Relations Abroad, [1] Baraka oversees the group's foreign relations. [2] He was previously the Hamas representative in Lebanon from 2011 to 2019. [3] [4]

In Lebanon, Baraka was responsible for Hamas's relations with Hezbollah and Iran. Amid allegations that Hamas was supporting Syrian rebels in the Syrian Civil War, Hezbollah ordered Baraka leave Lebanon. However, Baraka remained in Lebanon. [5] In 2016, Baraka met with an Iranian delegation at the Iranian embassy in Beirut to discuss Hamas-Iranian relations. According to the Palestine Chronicle, Iran has provided funding to Hamas. [6]

After Hamas attacked Israel on October 7, 2023, Baraka claimed that the group had been planning the operation for 2 years. [7] Baraka told Reuters that Hamas had long relied on money and training from Iran and the rest of Resistance Axis while Hamas was building its capabilities in Gaza. [8]

In a statement to Al Jazeera Arabic, Baraka stated that after the attack Hamas military leader Mohammed Deif appealed for support from Lebanon, Iran, Iraq, Syria, and Yemen. He revealed the existence since 2021 of a Palestinian Joint Operations Room among the various factions. [1]

International Sanctions

On 13 December 2023, Baraka was one of eight Hamas officials and facilitators targeted with U.S. sanctions for "perpetuat[ing] Hamas's violent agenda by representing the group’s interests abroad and managing its finances." [9]

On the same day, in close coordination with US authorities, the UK also imposed restrictions on Baraka, making him subject to a travel ban and assets freeze, citing his vocal support of the taking of hostages. [10] [1]

These restrictions were put in place in response to the October 7 Hamas attacks in order to hinder the group's access to funding and further isolate it on the international arena.

References

  1. ^ a b Dihasha, Najiya (2023-10-12). "قيادي في حماس للجزيرة نت: المقاومة من جنوب لبنان لمنع الاستفراد بغزة". Al Jazeera Arabic (in Arabic). Retrieved 6 December 2023.
  2. ^ Khalid, Tuqa (2023-10-15). "Russia can play crucial role in settling conflict with Israel: Hamas official". Al-Arabiya. Retrieved 25 October 2023.
  3. ^ "Israeli Troops Fire as Marchers Breach Borders". New York Times. 2011-05-15. Retrieved 25 October 2023.
  4. ^ "Hamas leader in Lebanon to meet Palestinian factions". Al Jazeera. 2020-09-02. Retrieved 24 October 2023.
  5. ^ Winer, Stuart (2013-05-03). "Hamas denies Hezbollah booting it out of Lebanon". Times of Israel. Retrieved 25 October 2023.
  6. ^ "Hamas Representative Meets with Iranian Officials in Beirut". Palestine Chronicle. 2016-09-02. Retrieved 24 October 2023.
  7. ^ Nakhoul, Samia (2023-10-11). "How a secretive Hamas commander masterminded the attack on Israel". Reuters. Retrieved 25 October 2023.
  8. ^ Nakhoul, Samia (2023-10-13). "How Hamas secretly built a 'mini-army' to fight Israel". Reuters. Archived from the original on 2023-10-13. Retrieved 25 October 2023.{{ cite news}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown ( link)
  9. ^ Oshin, Olafimihan (2023-12-13). "US targets Hamas finances with new sanctions". The Hill. Retrieved 13 December 2023.
  10. ^ "UK and US target Hamas with new sanctions to isolate terror group". GOV.UK. Retrieved 2024-01-21.
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