Israeli authorities have once again targeted the grave of Sheikh Izzeddin al-Qassam, nearly 90 years after his martyrdom, in a move widely condemned as an attack on Palestinian history and resistance memory.

Israel’s far-right so-called “national security” minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, accompanied by police forces, raided the Islamic endowment cemetery in the Balad al-Sheikh area of the occupied city of Haifa, where Sheikh al-Qassam is buried. During the raid, police dismantled a tent erected by the Islamic Waqf Committee near the grave and removed informational signs explaining the historical significance of the cemetery. Ben-Gvir also made provocative remarks at the site, directly targeting the legacy of the renowned Palestinian resistance figure.

The incident sparked widespread anger among Palestinians and resistance circles, who described the move as a deliberate provocation and a direct assault on Palestinian historical and symbolic memory.

Responding to the raid, Ibtihal al-Qassam, the granddaughter of the martyr, issued a strong message rejecting Israeli threats and intimidation. Speaking to the media while wearing a Palestinian keffiyeh, she said the Zionist regime is not afraid of a grave, but of a resistance legacy that has endured for decades.

“They are not targeting a tomb,” she said. “They are targeting a symbol of resistance that has survived for 90 years. My grandfather’s idea is still alive, not only in Palestine but across the entire region.”

Ibtihal al-Qassam described Ben-Gvir’s actions as a reflection of fear and weakness, arguing that regimes built on oppression and bloodshed constantly attempt to assert control over land and history because they lack confidence in their future.

She also said the escalation against Sheikh al-Qassam’s grave is aimed at diverting attention from Israel’s ongoing genocide in Gaza. “Today, Gaza is crying out for help. If my grandfather were alive, he would say: do not turn your eyes away from Gaza,” she added.

Sheikh Izzeddin al-Qassam was martyred on November 20, 1935, near Jenin during a clash with occupying forces. A prominent leader of armed resistance against British colonial rule, he later became a central inspiration for the 1936–1939 Great Palestinian Revolt. His name remains one of the most enduring symbols of resistance in Palestinian history.

Palestinian researchers note that attempts to erase or destroy al-Qassam’s cemetery are not new. Since 1948, occupying forces have repeatedly sought to eliminate the site. The latest escalation, particularly following October 7, is seen as part of renewed efforts by the Zionist regime to confront and suppress Palestinian historical and resistance memory.

Experts say that targeting Sheikh al-Qassam’s grave is part of a broader strategy aimed at erasing Palestinian identity and delegitimizing resistance. However, they stress that despite decades of repression, al-Qassam’s name, legacy, and ideas continue to represent one of the occupation’s deepest fears. (ILKHA)