Free Palestine Movement
| Free Palestine Movement | |
|---|---|
|
حركة فلسطين حرة Participant in the Arab–Israeli conflict and the Syrian Civil War |
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| Active | c. 2003 – present |
| Ideology |
Palestinian nationalism, Anti-Zionism, Antisemitism |
| Groups |
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| Leaders |
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| Area of operations | Syria, Lebanon |
| Allies |
 Syrian Armed Forces Fatah al-Intifada
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| Opponents |
  Syrian opposition and allied mujahideen ISIL Israel
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| Battles and wars | |
The Free Palestine Movement (Arabic: حركة فلسطين حرة) is a Palestinian Syrian armed movement and community organization that is led by the businessman Yasser Qashlaq and supports the Baa'athist government of Syria. The organization opposes the existence of Israel, and was mostly known for political activism and social services in favor of Palestinians in Syria and the Gaza Strip before 2012. Upon the outbreak of the Syrian Civil War, however, the Free Palestine Movement formed its own militias and has since then openly fought for the Syrian government against various rebel groups.
The Free Palestine Movement was founded by Yasser Qashlaq, a Syria-born Palestinian businessman of considerable wealth who heads several organizations including the Lebanese Institute of International Studies, the Syrian-Palestininan Investment House, the Palestinian Businessmen's Club, and also owns a small Lebanese newspaper. Furthermore, Yasser is known for his antisemitic views, having repeatedly called Jews "dregs of European garbage", a "gang of criminal murderers", and "human pieces of filth" that should be deported to Europe. He has also stated that there is "no reason for coexistence" between Israelis and Palestinians, as the latter would reclaim their lands and "hunt [the Israelis] down to the end of the world, and prosecute them for their massacres". Though close to the Syrian government, Yasser has denied any links with Hezbollah.
When Yasser first became politically active in the Palestinian Yarmouk Camp of Damascus in 2003, he consequently presented himself as supporting the Second Intifada. Since then, he organized the Free Palestine Movement as community organization which provided social services for Palestinians in Syria and rallied support for the Baa'athist government. Atlantic Council expert Tom Rollins also argued that the organization serves as "vehicle for [Yasser Qashlaq's] political ambitions". The Free Palestine Movement took part in organizing the Freedom Flotilla II for the Gaza Strip in 2010/11.
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