The Palestinian Islamic Jihad

Spotlight on Terrorism and the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict (November 30 – December 6, 2022)

This past week Palestinians carried out two terrorist attacks An Israeli bus was attacked with gunfire and there was a stabbing attack in which two Border Police fighters were wounded. The Israeli security forces continued counterterrorism activities in Judea and Samaria, detaining dozens of wanted terrorists and confiscating weapons. Five Palestinians were killed in exchanges of fire with Israeli security forces. A rocket was fired at Israel from the Gaza Strip, falling in an open area in the western Negev. No casualties or damage were reported. Senior Palestinian Authority (PA) figures continued their campaign to delegitimize the Israeli government currently being formed. The PA foreign minister, presented a document to the chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court describing "Israel's crimes against Palestinian children Read more...

Palestinian adolescents in the service of the terrorist organizations in Judea and Samaria

On November 22, 2022, Palestinians clashed with the Israeli security forces securing Israeli worshippers entered the Tomb of Joseph in NablusDuring the a 16 years old Palestinian was killed. The Lion's Den issued a mourning notice stating he was a young network operative. It was not the first time, generally speaking and especially during the past year, when Palestinian adolescents were involved in terrorist activity. The deaths of children and adolescents in clashes with the Israeli security forces serve the terrorist organizations as material to use in propaganda and lawfare against Israel. After every death, the senior Palestinian figures, media and social networks rush to represent Israel as deliberate, cold-blooded killers of children and adolescents. Read more...

Palestinian reactions to the double terrorist attack in Jerusalem (November 23, 2022)

On the morning of November 23, 2022, Palestinians carried out a double terrorist attack in Jerusalem. The attack was unique and more sophisticated than the recent lone wolf and shooting attacks. Considering the nature of the attack and concerned about an Israeli reprisal, the terrorist organizations in the Gaza Strip raised their level of alert. The official Palestinian media reported the attack as an event, not a terrorist attack. Senior PA figures did not relate to it at all. Read more...

Spotlight on Terrorism and the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict (August 24-30, 2022)

Palestinians carried out two shooting attacks in Nablus and in Shavei Shomron, northwest of Nablus. A stabbing attack was prevented when a Palestinian armed with a knife was detained at the Reihan Crossing. The Israeli security forces continued and increased their counterterrorism activities in Judea and Samaria. There was also an increase in attempts to smuggle weapons into Judea and Samaria. The Gaza Strip remained relatively quiet. Read more...

Operation Breaking Dawn from the Palestinian Perspective

The Palestinian media, the PIJ, Hamas and Iran reported Operation Breaking Dawn as a success for the Gaza Strip. However, various elements in the Gaza Strip criticized the PIJ. On the other hand, the PIJ criticized Hamas for not taking an active part in the fighting. Read more...

Spotlight on Terrorism and the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict (August 18-23, 2022)

This past week two shooting attacks targeted Israeli buses, no casualties were reported. A shooting attack was prevented at the Eliahu Crossing, south of Qalqilya. Israeli security forces continued carrying out counterterrorism activities in Judea and Samaria. Two Palestinians were killed in IDF activities and a Palestinian died after having been wounded two weeks previously. The Gaza Strip remained relatively quiet. The claim made by Mahmoud Abbas during his visit to Germany, that Israel allegedly carried out "fifty holocausts" of the Palestinian people, continues provoking reactions. Read more...

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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.