Palestinian Islamic Jihad

Palestinian Islamic Jihad
source
Name	Palestinian Islamic Jihad
Native name	حركة الجهاد الإسلامي في فلسطين
Leader	Ziyad al-Nakhalah
Foundation	0 1981
Founders	Fathi Shaqaqi, Abd al-Aziz Awda
Headquarters	Damascus (historically), Gaza Strip
Ideology	Islamism, Palestinian nationalism, Anti-Zionism
Position	Far-right
Religion	Sunni Islam
Armed wing	Al-Quds Brigades

Palestinian Islamic Jihad. It is a Sunni Islamist Palestinian organization and militant group, founded in the Gaza Strip during the early 1980s. The group is ideologically committed to the establishment of an Islamic state in all of historic Palestine through armed struggle against Israel, rejecting political negotiations. Considered a major Iranian proxy in the Israeli–Palestinian conflict, its military wing, the Al-Quds Brigades, is a primary combatant in the Gaza Strip.

History

The movement was established in 1981 by Fathi Shaqaqi, a Palestinian physician from Gaza City, and Abd al-Aziz Awda, a cleric; both were deeply influenced by the Iranian Revolution and the ideology of the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt. Early organizing occurred among Palestinian expatriates in Cairo and Gaza before the founders were expelled to Lebanon, where they aligned with Hezbollah and Iran. The group gained notoriety for a series of armed attacks against the Israel Defense Forces during the First Intifada, distinguishing itself from the more dominant Palestine Liberation Organization. Following the Oslo Accords, it intensified its campaign of suicide attacks inside Israel, most notably during the Second Intifada. After the assassination of Fathi Shaqaqi in Malta in 1995 by Mossad, leadership passed to Ramadan Shallah and later to the current Secretary-General, Ziyad al-Nakhalah.

Ideology and objectives

The group's core ideology is a synthesis of revolutionary Islamism and Palestinian nationalism, viewing the liberation of Palestine as a religious duty for all Muslims. It is fundamentally opposed to the Zionist project and the existence of the State of Israel, rejecting any political compromise such as the Oslo Accords or a two-state solution. Its ultimate objective is the establishment of an Islamic state governed by Sharia over the entirety of Mandatory Palestine, from the Jordan River to the Mediterranean Sea. The ideology is explicitly anti-Zionist and antisemitic, often framing the conflict in apocalyptic terms and viewing groups like Hamas as sometimes insufficiently militant.

Organizational structure and leadership

The group is led by a Secretary-General, currently Ziyad al-Nakhalah, who operates primarily from exile in Beirut, Lebanon. Its political bureau, the Shura Council, makes major strategic decisions, while its military operations are commanded by the Al-Quds Brigades. The operational leadership within the Gaza Strip has included figures like Akram al-Ajouri and Mohammed al-Hindi. The organization maintains a significant presence in the West Bank, particularly in cities like Jenin and Nablus, though its main power base remains in Gaza City and Khan Yunis. It relies on a clandestine cell structure for security and is heavily dependent on financial and military support from the Islamic Republic of Iran.

Military activities and tactics

The military wing, the Al-Quds Brigades, engages in asymmetric warfare against Israel, including rocket and mortar attacks from the Gaza Strip, such as during the 2008 Gaza War, 2014 Gaza War, and 2023 Israel–Hamas war. Its tactics have historically included suicide bombings, sniper attacks, and roadside bombings against the Israel Defense Forces and Israeli civilians. The group has developed and deployed increasingly sophisticated weaponry, including Fajr-5 and Badr-3 rockets, often sourced via Sinai or directly from Iran. It also employs tunnel warfare for infiltration and weapons smuggling, and its fighters have clashed repeatedly with the Israel Defense Forces in ground engagements in Jenin and the Gaza Strip.

Relationship with other Palestinian factions

The group maintains a complex, often rivalrous relationship with the larger Hamas, though they frequently coordinate militarily, as seen during conflicts like Operation Guardian of the Walls. It rejects the political authority of the Palestinian Authority and Mahmoud Abbas, considering them collaborators for engaging with Israel. While it operates independently, it has at times participated in broader militant alliances like the Joint Operations Room of the Palestinian Factions in Gaza. Its relationship with the secular Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine and Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine is primarily tactical, based on shared opposition to Israel, despite deep ideological differences.

International relations and designation

The primary international patron is the Islamic Republic of Iran, which provides financial aid, weapons, and training through the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and its Quds Force. It also receives support from the Syrian government of Bashar al-Assad and maintains close ties with Hezbollah in Lebanon. The organization is designated as a terrorist organization by the United States, the European Union, the United Kingdom, Japan, Canada, Australia, and Israel. In contrast, it is not formally designated by the United Nations, and countries like Iran and Syria regard it as a legitimate resistance movement.

Category:Militant organizations Category:Palestinian nationalism Category:Organizations designated as terrorist by the United States