Overview

Ahmed Abd al-Hadi is Hamas’s representative in Lebanon. He succeeded Ali Bakara in that role in January 2019. Hadi is involved in boosting Palestinian relations with Lebanon, improving the living conditions in Lebanon-based refugee camps, and keeping Palestinians away from political violence.“Abdulhadi succeeds Baraka as Hamas Representative in Lebanon,” Hamas, January 10, 2019, https://hamas.ps/en/post/1834/Abdulhadi-succeeds-Baraka-as-Hamas-Representative-in-Lebanon.

As Hamas’s representative, Hadi has facilitated meetings between Hamas and the Lebanese government, as well as other countries that maintain a diplomatic presence in Lebanon. In late June 2021, Hadi joined a Hamas delegation in meeting with Lebanese caretaker Prime Minister Hassan Diab. The delegation included Hamas Political Bureau leader Ismail Haniyeh, deputy political leader Saleh al-Arouri, and senior officials Khalil al-Haya, Izzat al-Rishq, and Osama Hamdan. They also met with Lebanese President Michel Aoun, parliamentary speaker Nabih Berri, and Hezbollah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah. Haniyeh reportedly spoke of increasing cooperation between Hamas and Hezbollah.Lebanese News and Updates, Twitter post, June 28, 2021, 6:38 a.m., https://twitter.com/LebUpdate/status/1409461105056006153.

Nonetheless, an October 2021 report by the ALMA Research Center found Hamas had been increasing its presence in Lebanon but also angering Hezbollah. According to the report, Hamas had hundreds of people in Lebanon working under the group’s “Construction Bureau,” out of Palestinian refugee camps in the country. The ALMA report found the Palestinian camps remained under the radar of both Lebanese authorities and Hezbollah, allowing Hamas’s contingent to grow unabated.Anna Ahronheim, “Hamas is increasing its activity in Lebanon and angering Hezbollah,” Jerusalem Post, October 12, 2021, https://www.jpost.com/arab-israeli-conflict/hamas-is-increasing-its-activity-in-lebanon-and-angering-hezbollah-681761. On February 26, 2022, Hadi joined a Hamas delegation in meeting with Hezbollah leaders in Lebanon. The delegation also included Hamas’s head of Arab and Islamic Relations Khalil Al-Hayya, member of the Bureau on Arab and Islamic Relations Osama Hamdan, and Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh’s media adviser, Taher Al-Nono. According to a Hamas statement, the two groups reiterated their position that normalization with Israel harms the Palestinian cause. Both groups called on countries that have normalized relations with Israel to reverse their decisions.“Senior Hamas delegation meets Hezbollah leaders in Lebanon,” Middle East Monitor, February 26, 2022, https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20220226-senior-hamas-delegation-meets-hezbollah-leaders-in-lebanon/.

Despite Hamas’s designation as a terrorist entity by the United States, Canada, and multiple European countries, Hadi has also met with U.N. officials while serving in Lebanon. On November 9, 2022, he met with Tor Wennesland, the U.N. special coordinator for the Middle East peace process. Senior Hamas official Mashhour Abdul-Halim also attended the meeting in Beirut. According to a Hamas statement, Hadi briefed Wennesland on Palestinian developments and urged the United Nations to stand by the Palestinian people’s rights. Hadi also called for pressuring Israel to end its aggression against the Palestinians.“Lebanon: Hamas representative meets UN peace envoy in Beirut,” Palestinian Information Center, November 10, 2022, https://english.palinfo.com/news/2022/11/10/Lebanon-Hamas-representative-meets-UN-peace-envoy-in-Beirut. Hadi also met with Cuban Ambassador to Lebanon Jorge Leon Cruz on February 25, 2023. The meeting also included Abdul Majeed Al-Awad, head of Hamas’s Political and Media Relations office. They discussed current events affecting the Palestinian cause and Palestinian refugees in Lebanon, as well as alleged Israeli violations in the West Bank and Jerusalem. Cruz reiterated Cuba’s support of the Palestinians’ “legitimate right” to “defend their land.”“Hamas delegation visits Cuba Ambassador to Lebanon,” Middle East Monitor, February 25, 2023, https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230225-hamas-delegation-visits-cuba-ambassador-to-lebanon/.

Hadi has supported Hamas’s “armed resistance” and advocated for its necessity. On January 4, 2023, in response to a visit to the Temple Mount/Al-Aqsa Mosque by newly installed far-right Israeli Minister of Security Itamar Ben-Gvir, Hadi told the Lebanese News Agency Israel is increasingly pushing to “judaize” Jerusalem. He warned Palestinian fighters were first in line to defend Al-Aqsa and the people would support them.“Hamas Rep in Lebanon: We’ll Destroy Ben-Gvir’s Project to Judaize Al-Aqsa,” Islam Times, January 4, 2023, https://www.islamtimes.org/en/news/1033612/hamas-rep-in-lebanon-we-ll-destroy-ben-gvir-s-project-to-judaize-al-aqsa.