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The Palestinian Islamic Jihad

Spotlight on Terrorism and the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict (October 6 – 13, 2026)

In statements marking three years since October 7, 2023, Hamas and the other terrorist organizations in the Gaza Strip have represented the terrorist invasion and subsequent massacre as a formative event that "changed history"; IDF forces destroyed weapons depots and killed commanders and operatives in the Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) military wings in the Gaza Strip, including operatives involved in the atrocities of the October 7, 2023 invasion and massacre. The IDF reported that Hamas terrorists continued to operate from hospitals and civilian facilities; Nikolay Mladenov, the Board of Peace representative for the Gaza Strip, warned that without implementing the ceasefire arrangement, the Gaza Strip could return to hostilities or enter a prolonged stalemate without stable governance or significant reconstruction; According to a new study, Hamas has shifted to a decentralized and informal system of control in the Gaza Strip enabling it to maintain its governance despite its military weakness and relinquishment of formal rule; PA chairman Mahmoud Abbas postponed the Palestinian Legislative Council elections from November 2026 to September 2027 because of the "political and security situation" in the Gaza Strip and Judea and Samaria and the restrictions on voting in east Jerusalem.
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Hamas’ Religious Ideology Reflected in the Planning and Execution of the Invasion and Massacre of October 7, 2023

Islam has been an integral part of Hamas' identity since its establishment in December 1987. The Hamas Charter states that Islam guides all the movement's actions, jihad is its path and death for the sake of Allah is the loftiest of its aspirations.; Hamas' absolute control of the Gaza Strip since 2007 has enabled it to impose its views on the formal and informal education system to fulfill its objective of raising generations of Islamist; Aside of military and political considerations, the religious dimension had a decisive influence on the decision of the Hamas leadership in the Gaza Strip to launch the invasion and massacre on October 7, 2023, as emerged from documents retrieved from the Gaza Strip during the war and from statements by senior Hamas operatives during preparations for attack and at its outset; The massacres and atrocities committed by Hamas terrorists in the communities and military bases near the Gaza Strip border and the western Negev were the expression of Hamas' antisemitism and religious rulings, which did not distinguish between Israeli civilians and uniformed personnel. 
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Spotlight on Terrorism and the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict (September 24 – October 6, 2026)

IDF forces destroyed two tunnels in the south and north of the Gaza Strip and eliminated 20 terrorist operatives. An attempt to kill Ali al-'Amoudi, the most senior Hamas figure in the Gaza Strip, failed; The head of the Hamas political bureau, Khalil al-Hayya, claimed that the movement was prepared to implement the ceasefire roadmap, but demanded it be viewed as a single, indivisible package; A report by the Hamas ministry of health in the Gaza Strip noted that in 2025 the population of the Gaza Strip increased and the number of deaths not resulting from war was identical to the figures recorded through 2023; A stabbing attack at a farm in north of Ramallah was prevented. Two Palestinian terrorists trying to run over IDF soldiers near Hebron were eliminated. 
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Spotlight on Terrorism and the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict (September 16-24, 2026)

 IDF forces exposed a tunnel in the central Gaza Strip and eliminated more than ten Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad terrorists, including the Hamas finance director and operatives involved in the October 7, 2023 terrorist invasion and massacre. An IDF engineering vehicle drove over an explosive device in the Yellow Line area. There were no casualties; A Hamas spokesman denied claims of violations or that the movement was planning to abduct Israeli soldiers or civilians; The High representative of the Board of Peace said the sensitive political situation caused by the upcoming elections in Israel was making it difficult to advance the ceasefire agreement; One Israeli was killed and an IDF reserve soldier was critically wounded in three terrorist attacks in Judea and Samaria. Two Israeli Arabs were charged with supporting Hamas.
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Can Ahmed al-Sharaa’s Syrian Regime Distance Itself from Terrorism?

Since seizing power in December 2024, Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa has pursued a pragmatic course aimed at drawing closer to Western countries, as well as conveying various messages to Israel regarding his desire to avoid friction; The regime conducts an ongoing campaign against global jihad organizations, and a hostile to and suspicious policy toward Iran, Hezbollah, and the Palestinian terrorist organizations; However, among the Syrian security forces there have been calls in support of jihad against Israel and the Jews.
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Spotlight on Terrorism and the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict (September 8-16, 2026)

IDF forces eliminated more than ten Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad commanders and terrorist operatives, including the commanders of the Rafah and Khan Yunis Brigades; The Israeli Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) denied allegations made by Hamas agencies of a shortage of medical equipment and of preventing patients from leaving for medical treatment outside the Gaza Strip; Armed clashes continued between militia operatives and Hamas operatives; Israeli security forces continued extensive counterterrorism activity in Judea and Samaria, detaining two wanted men who had planned shooting attacks. A terrorist cell of more than 30 terrorists was exposed in east Jerusalem and Judea and Samaria; The Palestinian Authority welcomed Britain's decision to prohibit imports of products from Israeli communities beyond the Green Line and impose sanctions on extremist settlers. Hamas and the boycott movement claimed the measures were insufficient.
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The Palestinian Islamic Jihad

The Palestinian Islamic Jihad is the second largest and most important terrorist organization in the Gaza Strip. It was established in the Gaza Strip in the late 1970s by students studying in Egypt, members of the Muslim Brotherhood, and headed by Dr. Fathi Shqaqi, a physician from Rafah, and Sheikh Abd al-Aziz Awda, a preacher from the Jebaliya refugee camp in the Gaza Strip.

Inspired by the Islamic Revolution in Iran, the Palestinian Islamic Jihad has a radical fundamentalist Sunni Muslim ideology. It seeks the immediate “liberation” of Palestine through jihad (holy war) and the establishment of a Muslim Palestinian state. Fathi Shqaqi was eliminated in Malta in 1995, and was succeeded by Dr. Ramadan Shalah, who is also one of the organization’s founding members.

The Palestinian Islamic Jihad rejects any arrangement or agreement with Israel. According to its ideology, jihad is an obligation that should be implemented immediately rather than be postponed until after the establishment of an Islamic state. The Palestinian Islamic Jihad has a military arm, Quds Brigades, equipped with various weapons, which fires rockets from the Gaza Strip and instigates carrying out terrorist attacks in Judea and Samaria. During the Second Intifada, the Palestinian Islamic Jihad “specialized” in carrying out suicide bombing attacks in Israeli territory.

Of all Palestinian terrorist organizations, the Palestinian Islamic Jihad is the closest to Iran and more than any other organization, it receives extensive support from Iran.

Like other terrorist organizations, the Palestinian Islamic Jihad has been designated as a terrorist organization by Israel and the United States.