HE Major General Qassem Pasha Al-Nasser (1925–2007) () was a Jordanian officer who participated in the 1948 Arab-Israeli War. He was part of many battles, such as: Latrun, Bab El-wad, and Misherem, amongst others.
Early life
Qasem Al-Nasser was born in April 1925 in Idoun, a village in Irbid to the North of Amman in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan (Formerly 1921–1946 the Emirate of Transjordan). His Father, Sheikh Mohammad Al-Mahmoud Al-Abdullah Al-Nasser Khasawneh, served as the Vice General Director of the Agricultural Credit Corporation. Major-General Al-Nasser had his primary and secondary education in Amman. Abdelmunim al-Rifai (former Prime Minister of Jordan 1969–1970) and Fawzi al-Mulki (former Prime Minister of Jordan 1953–1954) were amongst his teachers at that time. However, Al-Nasser got his higher degree from the Secondary school of Irbid in 1943. The same year, on 22 September, he was commissioned into the Jordanian Armed Forces (formerly known as the 'Arab Army').
1948 Palestine War
During the war in Palestine he was on top of a four-story wall. He was shot off the wall by an artillery shell, crushed his ribs and survived. Another thing that happened was he was shot and got up, covered the wound with his shirt and walked to the hospital. Qasem Al-Nasser participated in the 1948 Arab-Israeli War. He was one from amongst the Jordanian Officers who were loyal to their country. This background was behind his courageous participation in the events of this war. He was part of many battles, such as: Latrun, Bab El-wad, and Misherem, amongst others. During these battles, he had a serious injury in his head, and despite the pain, he wrapped the scarf—which was part of the Jordanian military uniform—and managed to walk to a close hospital where he got medical treatment. He also provided military training to Palestinian Commandos troops in many of the Palestinian cities.
Dismissal of British officers
Jordanian Officers were devoted to serving their country, and thus were unhappy with the presence of British Officers in all leading positions of the Jordanian Armed Forces. Thus, they formed the "Jordanian Free Officers Movement" which aimed to end the British officers presence, and the cancellation of the Jordanian-British Treaty. The Free Officers Movement elected Shaher Abu-Shahout as president and Qassem Al-Nasser as vice-president. The Movement included many Jordanian officers, including, but are not limited to: Shaher Abu-Shahout, Ali Abu-Nawar, said al sabeh, Mahmoud Al-Maaita, Tourki Al-Hindawi, Ali Al-Hiari, Sharif Zaid Ibn Shaker (later Prince), Natheer Rasheed, Dhafi Al-Jam’ani. The Movement got in contact with late King Hussein bin Talal, informing him with the aims and purposes which the Movement aimed to achieve, and were accepted and blessed by the King. This national effort resulted on 1 March 1956 with courageous declaration by the King to dismiss Lieutenant General John Bagot Glubb, the British commander of the Jordanian Armed Forces. King Hussein issued his instructions to members of the Free Officers Movement to enforce the Royal decree.