Lehi (aka: Lohamei Herut Israel, or Fighters for the Freedom of Israel)
The organization initially named "Lohamei Herut Israel" or "Fighters for the Freedom of Israel" was founded in 1940 by the Jew Abraham Stern. The organization was later named after him following his death. The formation of the Stern Gang came directly after the split within the ranks of the Irgun Zionist organization, following the death of the Jewish leader Jabotinsky in the same year. The primary reason for its establishment was the founder's desire and his followers to operate independently, outside the directives of the World Zionist Organization, away from the Haganah.
Despite the British forces being at war with Nazi Germany, the Jews' staunch adversaries at that time, during World War II, the Stern Gang saw the necessity to fight against the British Mandate forces in Palestine as they hindered the establishment of the state of Israel.
In 1942, the founder of the gang, Abraham Stern, was killed by British forces. In retaliation, the gang assassinated Lord Moyne, the British Minister for Middle East Affairs, in Cairo on November 6, 1944. Notably, the bombing of the King David Hotel in 1947 and the Deir Yassin massacre in 1948—coordinated with the Irgun—were among its most violent crimes.
Although the organization merged into the Israeli Defense Forces in May 1948, a rebellion occurred within its ranks. The rebels assassinated Count Bernadotte, leading to international outrage. The Israeli government arrested and imprisoned the perpetrators, but they were later released under a special pardon.
Israeli politicians and government officials still commemorate the anniversary of the movement's founder's death every year. Israel issued a postage stamp bearing his image in 1978. It's worth noting that Isaac Shamir, the late Prime Minister of Israel, was the leader of the movement's operations in the late 1940s.