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{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2018}}
{{Infobox war faction
|name=Aknaf Beit al-Maqdis
|native_name=
|native_name_lang= Ar
|war=the [[Syrian Civil War]]
|image=Flag of Hamas.svg
|caption=[[Hamas]] flag, used by Aknaf Bait al-Maqdis alongside other logos<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.aknafpal.com/ |title=Homepage of Aknaf Bait al-Maqdis |work=Aknaf Bait al-Maqdis |access-date=23 July 2018 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150406032603/http://www.aknafpal.com/ |archive-date=6 April 2015 |df=dmy-all }}</ref>
|active= {{circa}} 2012/13 – 2015 {{small|(main group)}} 2015 – ''present'' {{small|(remnant faction)}}
|ideology=[[Islamism]]
|leaders=*Abu Ahmed Mushir<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://syrianwardaily.wordpress.com/2017/12/08/syrian-war-daily-8th-of-december-2017/|title = Syrian War Daily – 8th of December 2017|date = 8 December 2017}}</ref>
*Abo Hamam<ref>{{cite web|url=http://myawesomedailyfinds.blogspot.com/2015/04/idlib-umbrella-terrorist-organization.html|title=Video- The War On Terror Continues- SAA ground-to-ground missile against ISIS Terrorists In Yarmouk Camp- Idlib, Hama, Qalamoun Mountains|access-date=4 April 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150526011215/http://myawesomedailyfinds.blogspot.com/2015/04/idlib-umbrella-terrorist-organization.html|archive-date=26 May 2015|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}</ref>
*Ahmad Zaghmout<ref name="MEM"/>
|groups=
|headquarters=[[Yarmouk Camp]], [[Damascus]]
|area=Southern [[Syria]]
|size=
|allegiance= {{flagicon image|Flag of Hamas.svg}} [[Hamas]] (denied by Hamas)<ref>https://masralarabia.net/العرب-والعالم/552963-حماس-تنفي-علاقتها-بتنظيم-أكناف-بيت-المقدس-في-سوريا</ref>
|partof=
|predecessor=
|successor=
|allies={{flagicon image|Logo of Jaysh al-Islam.jpg}} [[Jaysh al-Islam]] {{flagicon image|Al-Liwaa.svg}} [[Ababil Houran Brigade|Jaysh al-Ababil]] {{flagdeco|Syrian Opposition}} Liwa Sham al-Rasul {{flagicon image|Flag of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham.svg}} [[Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham]] (2018) {{flagicon image|Flag of the Al-Nusra Front.svg}} [[Al-Nusra Front]] (formally)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.al-binaa.com/archives/35997|title=سوريا‬ :جبريل: تنظيم جبهة "النصرة" الإرهابي تآمر على أكناف بيت المقدس بعد أن اعتبرها حليفة له}}</ref>
|opponents={{flag|Syria}} {{flagdeco|ISIL}} [[Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant]] {{flagicon image|Flag of the Al-Nusra Front.svg}} [[Al-Nusra Front]] (2015) [[File:PFLP-GC Flag.svg|22px]] [[Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine – General Command|PFLP-GC]] {{flagicon image|Flag of the Arab National Guard.svg}} [[Arab Nationalist Guard]] {{flagicon image|InfoboxHez.PNG}} [[Hezbollah]]
|battles= [[Syrian Civil War]]
* [[Daraa Governorate campaign]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=gBPW9g3hjgE|title = استهداف معاقل النظام في درعا المحطة|website = [[YouTube]]}}</ref>
* [[Quneitra Governorate clashes (2012–14)]]
* [[Rif Dimashq Governorate campaign]]
** [[Battle of Yarmouk Camp (2015)]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://aranews.net/2015/04/jihadists-of-isis-and-qaeda-attack-syrian-rebels-in-damascus/|title=Jihadists of ISIS and Qaeda attack Syrian rebels in Damascus|date=3 April 2015|access-date=2 April 2015|work=ARA News|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150405235356/http://aranews.net/2015/04/jihadists-of-isis-and-qaeda-attack-syrian-rebels-in-damascus/|archive-date=5 April 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref>
**[[Southern Damascus offensive (April–May 2018)]] {{small|(remnants)}}
*[[Quneitra offensive (October 2015)]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=QsX7qf6-h24|title = كتائب أكناف بيت المقدس وعملياتها في معركة وبشر الصابرين بالقنيطرة وحدة الاعلام المقاوم 5-10-2015|website = [[YouTube]]}}</ref>
}}
'''Aknaf Beit al-Maqdis''' ({{lang-ar|أكناف بيت المقدس|ʾAknāf Bayt al-Maqdis}}, lit. "Region of the [[Jerusalem|Holy House]]") was a [[Palestinians in Syria|Syrian Palestinian]] rebel group active during the [[Syrian Civil War]].

== History ==
Following the outbreak of the Syrian Civil War, several Syrian members of [[Hamas]] joined the rebellion against the Syrian government, and formed Aknaf Beit al-Maqdis.<ref name="aymenn">{{cite web|url=http://www.aymennjawad.org/2018/04/the-south-damascus-campaign-interview-with-quwat |title=The South Damascus Campaign: Interview with Quwat al-Sa'iqa |author=Aymenn Jawad Al-Tamimi |date=27 April 2018 |access-date=29 April 2018}}</ref> The militia was only loosely affiliated to the [[Syrian opposition]],{{sfnp|Lister|2015|p=345}} however, as its true allegiance remained with Hamas.<ref name="long war 1">{{cite web|url=https://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2015/04/islamic-state-releases-photos-from-yarmouk-palestinian-refugee-camp-in-damascus.php |title=Islamic State releases photos from Yarmouk Palestinian refugee camp in Damascus |author=Caleb Weiss |work=Long War Journal |date=5 April 2015 |access-date=7 March 2019}}</ref><ref name="newsweek">{{cite web|url=http://www.newsweek.com/palestinian-fighters-retake-areas-seized-isis-yarmouk-refugee-camp-319009|title=Palestinian Fighters Retake Parts of Refugee Camp Seized by ISIS|work=Newsweek|date=2 April 2015|access-date=16 April 2015}}</ref> Hamas officially denied any links with Aknaf Beit al-Maqdis.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/how-did-hamass-military-expertise-end-syrias-rebels |title=How did Hamas's military expertise end up with Syria's rebels? |author=Mamoon Alabbasi |work=Middle East Eye |date=22 May 2015 |access-date=7 March 2019 }}</ref> The group was primarily active in the [[Yarmouk Camp]] of [[Damascus]], which it defended alongside other insurgents from government attacks from 2013.<ref name="MEM">{{cite web|url=https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/articles/middle-east/18134-isis-and-nusra-are-one-in-yarmouk-camp|title='ISIS and Nusra are one' in Yarmouk Camp|work=Middle Meast Monitor|date=19 April 2015|access-date=19 April 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150518103605/https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/articles/middle-east/18134-isis-and-nusra-are-one-in-yarmouk-camp|archive-date=18 May 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref> It also had branches in [[Quneitra Governorate|Quneitra]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://smartnews-agency.com/en/wires/320424/syrian-government-forces-arrest-free-syrian-army-fighter-from-quneitra |title=Syrian government forces arrest Free Syrian Army fighter from Quneitra |work=Smart News |date=29 August 2018 |access-date=8 March 2019}}</ref> and the [[Daraa Governorate]]. The Aknaf Bait al-Maqdis' Daraa group took part in a rebel offensive in September 2013 which aimed at capturing the Daraa border crossing.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2013/09/al_nusrah_front_free.php |title=Al Nusrah Front, Free Syrian Army seize border crossing to Jordan |author=Bill Roggio |work=Long War Journal |date=29 September 2013 |access-date=8 March 2019}}</ref>

Aknaf Bait al-Maqdis battled the [[Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant]], backed by [[al-Nusra Front]], in April 2015 and lost 90% of its territory in Yarmouk Camp.<ref name="long war 1"/><ref name="newsweek"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://syriahr.com/en/2015/04/jabhat-al-nusra-and-is-take-control-on-90-of-the-yarmouk-camp/ |title=Jabhat al-Nusra and IS take control on 90% of the Yarmouk camp |work=Syrian Observatory For Human Rights |access-date=6 April 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150407010624/http://syriahr.com/en/2015/04/jabhat-al-nusra-and-is-take-control-on-90-of-the-yarmouk-camp/ |archive-date=7 April 2015 }}</ref> As result, Aknaf Beit al-Maqdis disintegrated, as many of its fighters defected to the Syrian government, the al-Nusra Front, and ISIL. In order to save the remainder of the militia (by then reduced to 160 fighters), Hamas leader [[Khaled Mashal]] reportedly contacted leading members of the [[Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine – General Command|PFLP-GC]], [[Hezbollah]], and the [[Amal Movement]] to guarantee the safety of Aknaf Beit al-Maqdis' members. The group's Yarmouk branch consequently joined the Syrian government forces,<ref name="foreign">{{cite web|url=https://foreignpolicy.com/2015/05/04/inside-the-ruins-of-yarmouk-refugee-camp-syria/ |title=The Defenders of Yarmouk |author=Nour Samaha |work=Foreign Policy |date=4 May 2015|access-date=19 April 2015}}</ref> and one of its commanders declared the entire militia dissolved.<ref name="MEM"/> Local pro-government troops continued to regard the ex-Aknaf Beit al-Maqdis fighters with suspicion.<ref name="foreign"/>

Despite the events of April 2015, at least one part of the militia remained active in Yarmouk Camp and allied with the Syrian rebels. This faction rejected offers of reconciliation by the government in January 2017,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://smartnews-agency.com/en/media/249607/displaced-people-from-yarmouk-camp-suffer-in-southern-damascus-towns |title=Displaced people from Yarmouk camp suffer in Southern Damascus towns |work=Smart News |date=12 September 2017 |access-date=8 March 2019}}</ref> though it, along with [[Jaysh al-Islam]] and Jaysh al-Ababil, signed a ceasefire agreement with government forces in October 2017.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.alaraby.co.uk/english/news/2017/10/12/syrian-rebel-groups-agree-to-southern-damascus-truce |title=Syrian rebel groups 'agree to Damascus truce' in Cairo |work=The New Arab |date=12 October 2017 |access-date=7 March 2019 }}</ref>

After most rebel factions in southern Damascus, including Aknaf Bait al-Maqdis, rejected offers to be transported to insurgent-held areas in northern Syria,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://smartnews-agency.com/en/wires/281800/dignitaries-and-opposition-factions-in-southern-damascus-refuse-preliminary-agreement |title=Dignitaries and opposition factions in Southern Damascus refuse preliminary agreement with Russia |work=Smart News |date=3 April 2018 |access-date=8 March 2019}}</ref> the government launched [[Southern Damascus offensive (April–May 2018)|an offensive]] from April 2018, aiming to retake all of southern Damascus. Amid this offensive, Aknaf Bait al-Maqdis clashed with Palestinian pro-government militias in Yarmouk Camp.<ref name="aymenn"/> Hard-pressed and without hopes of victory, the insurgents yielded in May, and agreed to surrender and be relocate to northern Syria. The pro-rebel Aknaf Bait al-Maqdis militants and their families were among the first group of surrendered insurgents to be transported to the north.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://smartnews-agency.com/en/wires/290794/civilians-and-fighters-from-three-towns-in-southern-damascus-begin |title=Civilians and fighters from three towns in southern Damascus begin displacement process to Northern Syria |work=Smart News |date=3 May 2018 |access-date=8 March 2019}}</ref>

==See also==
*[[List of armed groups in the Syrian Civil War]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

===Works cited===
{{refbegin}}
*{{cite book|last=Lister|year=2015|first=Charles R.|title=The Syrian Jihad: Al-Qaeda, the Islamic State and the Evolution of an Insurgency|publisher=[[Oxford University Press]]|isbn=978-019046247-5|url={{Google books|S6eKCwAAQBAJ|plainurl=y}}}}
{{refend}}
{{Syrian Civil War}}
[[Category:Anti-government factions of the Syrian civil war]]
[[Category:Anti-ISIL factions in Syria]]
[[Category:Hamas]]
[[Category:Palestinian militant groups]]
[[Category:Palestinians in Syria]]

Aknaf Bait al-Maqdis - Revision history

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