The Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ), also known as the Islamic Jihad Movement in Palestine, is the second-largest armed group in the Gaza Strip. It is known for its extremist and uncompromising stance, rejecting any political peace process and advocating for a military victory over Israel to establish an Islamic state encompassing Israel, the West Bank, and Gaza.
PIJ operates its military wing, the al-Quds Brigades, which has its own arsenal of rockets and fighters. While the exact number of its fighters is uncertain, the group has remained active despite Israeli military actions and has claimed to hold Israeli hostages.
In terms of its relationship with Hamas, although they have collaborated at times, PIJ remains a rival. Differences in strategy, ideology, and organization have prevented a closer alliance. PIJ maintains a clandestine cell structure, in contrast to Hamas’s mass mobilization approach. Despite some common objectives and Islamist beliefs, these two groups have frequently clashed on tactics and negotiations.
PIJ was founded in 1981 by Fathi Abd al-Aziz al-Shikaki and was inspired by radicalization trends in the Middle East, including the Iranian revolution and the writings of Ayatollah Khomeini. Over the years, it attracted members from various backgrounds, including disaffected members of secular leftist groups and the Muslim Brotherhood.
The group receives funding, primarily from Iran, as acknowledged by the United States, along with potential support from Syria, wealthy Palestinians in Gaza, and fundraising efforts abroad. It has headquarters in Damascus and offices in Tehran.
PIJ is recognized for its history of suicide bombings and attacks on Israeli targets, and it has continued to operate despite various challenges and changes in the region.
