Khaled Qaddoumi

Khaled Qaddoumi is Hamas’s representative in Tehran, Iran. He is responsible for raising Hamas’s interests with Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and members of the Iranian government. He also acts as a public mouthpiece for Hamas to Iranian and international media.Adnan Abu Amer, “Haniyeh’s visit signals Hamas seeks stronger Iranian alliance,” Al Monitor, January 8, 2020, https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2020/01/hamas-haniyeh-visit-iran-funeral-soleimani-alliance-support.html.

As Hamas’s point of contact in Iran, Qaddoumi ensures a strong relationship between the two. While he maintains Iran is a “partner,” “friend,” and “supporter” of Hamas, he insists the group is not an Iranian proxy.Ali Hashem, “Hamas representative in Iran: latest round of fighting is strategic shift for group,” Al-Monitor, May 17, 2021, https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2021/05/hamas-representative-iran-latest-round-fighting-strategic-shift-group. Yet, Qaddoumi routinely acknowledges Iranian support for Hamas, both politically and militarily. At the height of Hamas’s 11-day May 2021 conflict with Israel, Qaddoumi praised Iran for providing Hamas with knowledge and weapons to arm itself. He also called the conflict a “strategic shift” for Hamas “from defending Gaza against Israeli attacks to defending all Palestinians living in historical Palestine.”Ali Hashem, “Hamas representative in Iran: latest round of fighting is strategic shift for group,” Al-Monitor, May 17, 2021, https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2021/05/hamas-representative-iran-latest-round-fighting-strategic-shift-group. During an anti-Israel student rally at the University of Tehran on May 13, 2021, during that month’s conflict, Qaddoumi announced Palestinians and Iranians would jointly seek the destruction of Israel.“Iranian people join students to slam Israel’s vicious onslaught against Gazans,” Pars Today, May 13, 2021, https://parstoday.com/en/news/iran-i142050-iranian_people_join_students_to_slam_israel%E2%80%99s_vicious_onslaught_against_gazans.

Qaddoumi has worked to elevate Hamas’s profile in Iran, joining Hamas delegations in meeting with Khamenei and other high-ranking Iranian officials. After Iran cut back its support of Hamas in response to the terror group voicing support for protesters at the start of the Syrian civil war,Robert Tait, “Iran Cuts Hamas Funding over Syria,” Telegraph (London), May 31, 2013, http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/palestinianauthority/10091629/Iran-cuts-Hamas-funding-over-Syria.html. Qaddoumi participated in multiple meetings that eventually saw Iran restore its support. In January 2016, Qaddoumi met with then Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammed Javad Zarif in Tehran to discuss potential Iranian financial support for Hamas. Zarif offered to restore full Iranian support to Hamas in exchange for Hamas officially declaring its allegiance to Iran. At the time, Hamas’s leadership feared such a declaration would alienate Hamas from Sunni Arab states and ultimately rejected the deal.Avi Issacharoff, “Hamas rejects Iran offer of funding in return for backing in Saudi row,’” Times of Israel, January 15, 2016, https://www.timesofisrael.com/hamas-rejects-iran-offer-of-funding-in-return-for-backing-in-saudi-row/. Nonetheless, Hamas and Iran publicly restored their ties in 2017.Fares Akram and Josef Federman, “New Hamas leader says it is getting aid again from Iran,” Associated Press, August 28, 2017, https://apnews.com/0427f88fe857479caa633fad5683aa96/New-Hamas-leader-says-it-is-getting-aid-again-from-Iran.

Since it seized control of the Gaza Strip in 2007 and became the territory’s de facto government, Hamas has sought to moderate its image by branding itself as a legitimate resistance to Israeli occupation. In his role as an international spokesman for Hamas, Qaddoumi has embraced this narrative while also defending Hamas’s continued use of violence. On May 1, 2017, Hamas unveiled a new policy document, the first since the release of its 1988 organizational charter. The document omitted the original charter’s references to Jews and framed the Palestinian struggle as a nationalistic rather than religious one. Though the document accepted the idea of a Palestinian state along the pre-1967 lines, the charter continued to withhold recognition of the State of Israel. As the document outlines, Hamas continues to embrace “armed resistance” against Israel in its pursuit of the “liberation” of Palestine “from the river to the sea.” “A Document of General Principles & Policies,” Hamas Media Office, accessed October 19, 2021, http://hamas.ps/ar/uploads/documents/06c77206ce934064ab5a901fa8bfef44.pdf; “New Hamas policy document ‘aims to soften image,’” BBC News, May 1, 2017, http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-39744551. In a meeting that month with the Iranian parliament speaker’s special adviser on international affairs, Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, Qaddoumi emphasized Hamas remained committed to its “previous principles” of not recognizing Israel, seeking the return of all Palestinian refugees, and maintaining the importance of Jerusalem.“Saudi’s reliance on Trump’s America to yield no results,” Mehr News Agency, May 29, 2017, https://en.mehrnews.com/news/125637/Saudi-reliance-on-Trump-s-US-to-yield-no-results.

Qaddoumi has also sought to internationalize the Israeli-Palestinian conflict by labeling the Palestinian issue as a shared cause and source of unity for all Muslims.“Hamas representative meets Iranian MPs over support for uprising,” Palestinian Information Center, November 26, 2015, https://english.palinfo.com/news/2015/11/26/hamas-representative-meets-iranian-mps-over-support-for-uprising. During the 32nd Islamic Unity Conference in Tehran in November 2018, Qaddoumi called Jerusalem and Palestine a “big umbrella” under which all Islamic nations can gather.Mohammad Ali Haqshenas, “Palestine a big umbrella that gathers all Muslims: Hamas rep.,” Mehr News Agency, November 26, 2018, https://en.mehrnews.com/news/139908/Palestine-a-big-umbrella-that-gathers-all-Muslims-Hamas-rep. He called for “practical steps” to “confront the Zio-American hegemony in the region.”https://en.mehrnews.com/news/139908/Palestine-a-big-umbrella-that-gathers-all-Muslims-Hamas-rep. As such, Qaddoumi has rejected all normalization with Israel by Muslim nations. After condemning a June 2016 reconciliation agreement between Israel and Turkey, Qaddoumi designated normalization with Israel as “a bad thing.”“Gaza – Senior Hamas Officials Blast Israel-Turkey Normalization Deal,” Vos Iz Neias?, June 28, 2016, https://vinnews.com/2016/06/28/senior-hamas-officials-blast-israel-turkey-normalization-deal/. Qaddoumi condemned the August 2020 normalization agreement between Israel and the United Arab Emirates as a betrayal of the Palestinian people.Zahra Mirzafarjouyan, “No deal can legitimize the Zionist regime: Khaled al- Qaddumi,” Mehr News Agency, August 24, 2020, https://en.mehrnews.com/news/162679/No-deal-can-legitimize-the-Zionist-regime-Khaled-al-Qaddumi.

Qaddoumi continues to represent Hamas’s violent, anti-Israel agenda from Tehran. After the UAE signed its normalization agreement with Israel in 2020, Qaddoumi reaffirmed Hamas’s position that Israel “is destined for destruction and deterioration.”“UAE suffering from Stockholm Syndrome: Khaled al-Qaddumi,” Mehr News Agency, August 25, 2020, https://en.mehrnews.com/news/162737/UAE-suffering-from-Stockholm-Syndrome-Khaled-al-Qaddumi. He reiterated this and reaffirmed Iran’s support for Hamas during an August 2022 rally in Tehran, during which he praised Iran and the Iranian people for standing with the Palestinians against Israel.“Iranians stage rally in support of Palestinians, decry Israel's attack on Gaza,” Tehran Times, August 10, 2022, https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/475529/Iranians-stage-rally-in-support-of-Palestinians-decry-Israel-s. After Saudi Arabia and Iran announced the resumption of ties in March 2023, Qaddoumi told Iranian media Hamas expects the agreement to bring dignity, authority, and stability to the Islamic community. He called Palestine the link between different parts of the Islamic ummah, which faces “a common enemy” in Israel.“Iran-Saudi ties restoration fatal blow to US-Israeli project,” Mehr News Agency, March 12, 2023, https://en.mehrnews.com/news/198382/Iran-Saudi-ties-restoration-fatal-blow-to-US-Israeli-project.

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):
Representative in Iran

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

Mar. 2023

Following the Saudi-Iranian reconciliation agreement:

“Any action that infuriates the Zionist enemy is a step in the right direction. This unity and accord is the desire of the nations in the region, and what political leaders should do is to listen to the people’s wishes.”“Iran-Saudi ties restoration fatal blow to US-Israeli project,” Mehr News Agency, March 12, 2023, https://en.mehrnews.com/news/198382/Iran-Saudi-ties-restoration-fatal-blow-to-US-Israeli-project.

Sep. 22, 2022

“7- #Tolerance: is to accept differences among your people race, religion etc. but not the thiefs and invaders even if they are of the same race, religion or any other index. #Israel is alien, thief and invader it should not be tolerated. No for #Normalisation w ‘Israel’.” (tweet)Khaled Qaddoumi, Twitter post, September 22, 2022, 5:03 p.m., https://twitter.com/KhaledQadomi/status/1573055377414963202.

May 13, 2021

Speaking to an anti-Israel student rally at Tehran University:

“Today, resistance, al-Quds and Palestine are victorious. Today, Palestinian children and youth sent a message to people of the world saying resistance can target the Zionist regime with its rockets.”“Iranian people join students to slam Israel’s vicious onslaught against Gazans,” Pars Today, May 13, 2021, https://parstoday.com/en/news/iran-i142050-iranian_people_join_students_to_slam_israel%E2%80%99s_vicious_onslaught_against_gazans.

May 13, 2021

Speaking to an anti-Israel student rally at Tehran University:

“Certainly, your support for us in Palestine means a lot, and we will trek together on the path of destroying the Zionist regime.”https://parstoday.com/en/news/iran-i142050-iranian_people_join_students_to_slam_israel%E2%80%99s_vicious_onslaught_against_gazans.

May 7, 2021

“I do not know what kind of coexistence they are talking about; what kind of peaceful coexistence can be had with these instinctive criminals. They want to kill and burn the Palestinians so that they can settle down in the occupied territories. In short, today, we are facing a very violent and wild Zionist society whose leaders are provoking extremist emotions. Perhaps this is the best sign and a direct and practical referendum on the type of solution because, according to the Zionists, this conflict cannot be resolved except on the lifeless body of the other side.”Khalid al-Qaddumi, “Al-Quds sparks the flames of resistance again,” Tehran Times, May 7, 2021, https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/460645/Al-Quds-sparks-the-flames-of-resistance-again.

“For the first time we have an uprising in Jerusalem, among Palestinians who are living in 1948 areas, in the West Bank, and rockets are being launched from Gaza.”Ali Hashem, “Hamas representative in Iran: latest round of fighting is strategic shift for group,” Al-Monitor, May 17, 2021, https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2021/05/hamas-representative-iran-latest-round-fighting-strategic-shift-group.

May 2021

“Iran is our partner, our friend and our supporter. They were never reluctant in providing any help to the Palestinian people. We don’t need instigations, we’re not anyone’s proxy. Israel’s barbaric crimes make it a source of instability not only in Palestine, but across the region. They attack Syria, Iraq and — as we saw recently — Iranian nuclear facilities. They assassinate nuclear scientists. So yes, we’re confronting a common enemy, but that doesn’t mean we should be blamed. We are victims and it’s Israel that’s been committing all these atrocities.”Ali Hashem, “Hamas representative in Iran: latest round of fighting is strategic shift for group,” Al-Monitor, May 17, 2021, https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2021/05/hamas-representative-iran-latest-round-fighting-strategic-shift-group.

May 2021

Iran “has helped a lot in transferring knowledge and expertise on one side, and transporting the rockets on another, helping Hamas depend on its local capabilities to produce such advanced technology.”Ali Hashem, “Hamas representative in Iran: latest round of fighting is strategic shift for group,” Al-Monitor, May 17, 2021, https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2021/05/hamas-representative-iran-latest-round-fighting-strategic-shift-group.

May 2021

“With the local capabilities, the resistance managed to reach to a range of 250 kilometers [155 miles] with warheads weighing more than 250 kilograms [551 pounds], while hitting important landmarks such as the Hatzerim air base that was the base from which Israeli aircraft waged raids and air attacks on Gaza.”Ali Hashem, “Hamas representative in Iran: latest round of fighting is strategic shift for group,” Al-Monitor, May 17, 2021, https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2021/05/hamas-representative-iran-latest-round-fighting-strategic-shift-group.

March 19, 2021

“The oppression of the enemy has reached its peak and the resistance has is determined to destroy Israel and the Zionist regime. Rest assured that you will travel to Palestine soon and we will pray the victory prayer together.”“Tehranis rally in support of Palestine,” Tehran Times, May 19, 2021, https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/461127/Tehranis-rally-in-support-of-Palestinians.

Sept. 2020

“Today the resistance front, especially Hamas, besides other brothers in Gaza, exercises its pressure through different means against the Israeli enemy, and we have found that after the people of Gaza have sent all those balloons, have invited all those dignitaries from different corners of the world to mediate for the enforcement of ceasefire between the enemy and us.

…

“We are in dire need of a strong coalition in the region to repel any threat and reject all foreign interventions; we can stand solid and strong in all areas, including economy, culture, and politics. You are very right that Turkey, Iran, and Qatar, and all others to join such a coalition. It is the right recipe for the dignity and prosperity of the region and Islamic countries.

…

“The only enemy is the Israeli regime.

…

“The decision-makers in Iran knew, and now they see that we all have the same destiny, and we face the same enemy, and we need to remove it from the region.

…

“This entity is the only cause of instability. Our relations are multi-dimensional today. It is not only at the military level, but it is also at the political level, planning level, and we have a common understanding of many political issues. There are collaboration at the discussion level, meeting level, and this collaboration is also being implemented practically in multi visits between Iranian brothers and us either in Tehran or in the region. I hope that we move towards more proper and more strategic steps in favor of the unity of the Muslim Ummah and facing the common enemy (Israel).”Mohammad Mazhari, “Iran, Turkey, and Qatar can form alliance: Hamas representative in Tehran,” Tehran Times, September 7, 2020, https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/452187/Iran-Turkey-and-Qatar-can-form-alliance-Hamas-representative.

Aug. 2020

Interview with Iran’s Mehr News Agency on normalization between Israel and the United Arab Emirates:

“The normalization of relations between the UAE and the Zionist regime is as criminal an act as the arson attack on Al-Aqsa Mosque. The arson attack on the Al-Aqsa Mosque is an act of transgression against the symbol of the Islamic and Arab ummah, and those who normalize relations with Israel intend to introduce this aggressor as a friend and justify its many crimes. It is not befitting for us as human beings to reduce global problems to the level of personal issues. Someone commits a wrong deed. Should we thank him for it? No, I’d tell him he’s crossed the line. The criminal nature of normalizing relations with the Zionist regime and setting fire to the Al-Aqsa Mosque is the same.”“UAE suffering from Stockholm Syndrome: Khaled al-Qaddumi,” Mehr News Agency, August 25, 2020, https://en.mehrnews.com/news/162737/UAE-suffering-from-Stockholm-Syndrome-Khaled-al-Qaddumi.

Aug. 2020

Interview with Iran’s Mehr News Agency on normalization between Israel and the United Arab Emirates:

“This is not a funny comedy at all, but a first-hand tragedy. These are people and countries suffering from Stockholm Syndrome. The UAE does not want to admit that the Zionist regime is an enemy and a criminal, instead it proclaims its love for this regime. They see this executioner as a savior. Our nations and educated class have a great responsibility in questioning these countries that seek the normalization of relations with Israel. We should not treat this as a joke; As we see in the media. This is what the criminal wants. Nations soon forget everything, but the educated class must take a clear stand on this issue.”“UAE suffering from Stockholm Syndrome: Khaled al-Qaddumi,” Mehr News Agency, August 25, 2020, https://en.mehrnews.com/news/162737/UAE-suffering-from-Stockholm-Syndrome-Khaled-al-Qaddumi.

Aug. 2020

Interview with Iran’s Mehr News Agency on normalization between Israel and the United Arab Emirates:

“In our opinion, the Zionist regime is and will remain the enemy. The regime is destined for destruction and deterioration, and whichever country that has established friendly ties with it will join the regime in the wasteland of history.” “UAE suffering from Stockholm Syndrome: Khaled al-Qaddumi,” Mehr News Agency, August 25, 2020, https://en.mehrnews.com/news/162737/UAE-suffering-from-Stockholm-Syndrome-Khaled-al-Qaddumi.

Aug. 2020

“Any of the countries that have normalized ties with the Zionist regime since 1978 have not achieved any of those announced goals neither economic nor political ones. Political figures in Tel Aviv use normalization of ties with other countries just as a tool to save themselves.”Zahra Mirzafarjouyan, “No deal can legitimize the Zionist regime: Khaled al- Qaddumi,” Mehr News Agency, August 24, 2020, https://en.mehrnews.com/news/162679/No-deal-can-legitimize-the-Zionist-regime-Khaled-al-Qaddumi.

Jan. 2020

Speaking to media during a Hamas delegation visit to Iran for the funeral of Quds Force commander Qasem Soleimani:

“[Haniyeh's visit] was made out of loyalty to Hamas’ allies. On the sidelines of the funeral, Haniyeh met with the Iranian state pillars. Iranian officials greatly welcomed the Hamas delegation. Hamas perceives Soleimani’s assassination as an inadmissible crime. We don't rule out [the possibility] that Israel might plan similar idiocy against our leaders. But we are taking precautions.”Adnan Abu Amer, “Haniyeh’s visit signals Hamas seeks stronger Iranian alliance,” Al-Monitor, January 8, 2020, https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2020/01/hamas-haniyeh-visit-iran-funeral-soleimani-alliance-support.html.

Nov. 2018

Interview with Iranian media during the 32nd Islamic Unity Conference in Tehran:

“And this is what we required today since we have mentioned that Palestine and Jerusalem is a big umbrella that gathers all of us; so that means we need some practical steps to move forward like how to confront the Israeli hegemony in the region, how to confront the Zio-American hegemony in the region. We are elites and we have big responsibilities that we have to do in front of our nations.”Mohammad Ali Haqshenas, “Palestine a big umbrella that gathers all Muslims: Hamas rep.,” Mehr News Agency, November 26, 2018, https://en.mehrnews.com/news/139908/Palestine-a-big-umbrella-that-gathers-all-Muslims-Hamas-rep.

Dec. 2014

“The visit is positive and the meetings with the Iranians were warm. Hamas is concerned with Iran’s role as a pivotal country in the region with a long history of supporting the resistance. Hamas does not have to reveal the mechanism and details of the support it receives from any party, or the nature of ties it has with the parties it deals with.”Adnan Abu Amer, “Hamas asks Iran for money, weapons,” Al-Monitor, December 17, 2014, https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2014/12/iran-hamas-repair-ties-with-visit-to-theran.html.

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Daily Dose

Extremists: Their Words. Their Actions.

In Their Own Words:

We reiterate once again that the brigades will directly target US bases across the region in case the US enemy commits a folly and decides to strike our resistance fighters and their camps [in Iraq].

Abu Ali al-Askari, Kata’ib Hezbollah (KH) Security Official Mar. 2023
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