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Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ)

Type:

Terrorist Group
Formation:

1981
Secretary General:

Ziyad al-Nakhalah
Areas of Operation:

Gaza, West Bank, Lebanon, Syria, Iran
Headquarters:

Damascus. Syria

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The Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) is an Iran-backed, anti-Israel, Sunni Islamist terrorist group that seeks the creation of an Islamic Palestinian state and the destruction of Israel. It operates primarily through its armed military wing, the Al-Quds Brigade, which it founded in 1992. 1

The PIJ has claimed responsibility for dozens of terrorist attacks, including participation in the October 7, 2023, Hamas-led terrorist attack against Israel. 2 Although PIJ has tactical and religious disagreements with other radical Islamist states and groups, it often works in concert with Hamas, Hezbollah, and other states or terrorist groups in the Middle East. It is financial sponsored by the Islamic Republic of Iran. 3

History

Palestinian Islamic Jihad was founded in 1981 by Fathi Abd al-Aziz al-Shaqaqi, a physician from Rafah in the Gaza Strip. Following the assassination of then-Egyptian President Anwar Sadat in 1981, Shaqaqi and his followers were exiled to then-Israeli-occupied Gaza, where he officially founded Palestinian Islamic Jihad. 4

PIJ began its armed military operation from Gaza against Israel in 1984. 5 By 1988, PIJ’s leadership was expelled from Gaza to Lebanon, where it received training and support from Hezbollah and the Iranian Revolutionary Guard. In the 1990s, PIJ moved its headquarters to Damascus, Syria, with outlets in Beirut, Tehran, and Khartoum following the assassination of Fathi Shaqaqi in 1995 by Mossad in retaliation for PIJ’s double suicide bombing against Israeli soldiers at Beit Lid Junction in Israel. 6 7

PIJ continued to carry out suicide bombings against Israeli civilians until 2007, at which point it switched to primarily small arms attacks and rocket campaigns against Israel from the Gaza Strip and West Bank. The terrorist organization remains largely cell-based, recruiting radical Islamists from the Islamic University in Gaza and expanding its membership to the secular Palestinian Liberation Organization’s Fatah and the Marxist Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP). 8

The United States Department of State designated PIJ as a Foreign Terrorist Organization in 1997 and designated PIJ’s Secretary General Ziyad al-Nakhalah as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist in 2014. 9

Ideology and Network

Palestinian Islamic Jihad founder Fathi Shaqaqi was heavily influenced by the ideology of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, the Iranian revolutionary leader who advocated greater militarism against Israel. Shaqaqi advocated for Sunni-Shiite unity in the struggle to eliminate Israel and reclaim the entire territory of the pre-1948 British Mandate of Palestine through an Islamic-Arabic alliance. 10 11

Although the factions are sometimes in tension with one another, shared anti-Zionism and antisemitism provide common ground for PIJ to work with Hamas, Iran, Syria, and Hezbollah within Lebanon to advance the security of the respective states and non-state groups and their collective campaign against Israel. 12 PIJ and Hamas both rejected the 1993 Oslo Accords as a betrayal of Palestinian and Islamic interests. 13

Terrorism

Early Campaigns

Since its founding, Palestinian Islamic Jihad has engaged in terrorism against the state of Israel. In the 1980s and 1990s, PIJ carried out a series of suicide attacks on Israeli buses, including the 1989 attack on Bus 405 along the Jerusalem–Tel Aviv highway that killed 14 people, including two Canadians and one American, and left dozens more wounded. 14 Again in 1990, PIJ attacked an Egyptian bus carrying Israeli tourists, killing 11 and wounding 19. 15

In March 1996, a Palestinian Islamic Jihad suicide bombing at the Dizengoff Center in Tel Aviv killed 20 civilians and wounded more than 75, including two Americans. 16

Al-Quds Brigade

While it had engaged in violent activities for its entire existence, Palestinian Islamic Jihad formalized its military wing, the Al-Quds Brigade (AQB), in 1992. 17Following the assassination of PIJ founder Fathi Shaqaqi, Al-Quds carried out a series of suicide bombings and other attacks against Israeli civilians. As of 2023-2024, the Al-Quds Brigade is the second-largest armed group in Gaza after the Hamas Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades (IQB), and coordinates with other military groups within Gaza. Palestinian Islamic Jihad’s growing presence in the West Bank fosters cooperation among AQB, Fatah’s al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, and Hamas‘s IQB. This coalition of anti-Israel militias is especially active in the northern West Bank towns of Nablus and Jenin under the umbrella name “Jenin Battalion.” 18

In June 2007, the Al-Quds Brigade allegedly used an armored Jeep with “TV” and “press” insignias to carry out an attack against Israel Defense Forces (IDF) soldiers at the Kissufim crossing between Gaza and Israel. Although the attack was unsuccessful, leading only to the death of an Al-Quds Brigade militiaman, the use of false media insignias sparked international controversy. 19 Palestinian Islamic Jihad and the AQB denied that the Jeep bore a press insignia. 20

Other Acts of Terrorism

More recent Palestinian Islamic Jihad and Al-Quds Brigade terrorist attacks often take the form of small arms combat and rocket bombardments of Israeli military and civilian targets. 21 22

In November 2018, in concert with Hamas, PIJ fired more than 400 rockets toward Israel, killing one person and wounding dozens of others. In November 2019, PIJ launched more than 400 rockets at Israel after Israeli forces killed a senior PIJ commander; the attack caused several injuries. 23

In February 2020, PIJ fired 100 rockets toward Israel in response to the death of three of its fighters, causing at least a dozen injuries. In May 2021, PIJ collaborated with Hamas to fire over 4,000 rockets toward Israel, killing 11 civilians and one soldier. In August 2022, PIJ launched approximately 1,100 rockets at Israel in response to the death of one of its leaders, killing 15 Palestinians with errant rockets and causing several injuries in Israel. 24

October 7, 2023, Hamas Attack

Palestinian Islamic Jihad helped Hamas carry out the October 7, 2023, terrorist attack that killed over 1,200 Israelis, including concert attendees at the Supernova Music Festival. It is unclear the extent to which PIJ aided Hamas in the attack, but PIJ has taken responsibility for playing a part in the attack. 25

When the United States announced sanctions against Hamas-affiliated groups and individuals who helped in the October 7 attack, it named Akram al-Ajouri as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist for being the leader of PIJ’s militant wing, the Al-Quds Brigade. 26

In addition to the United States and Israel, PIJ has been designated as a terrorist organization by the European Union, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. 27 28 29 30 31

In June 2024, Israeli Defense Forces soldiers killed two PIJ members who were attempting to carry out an attack near the West Bank. The men were armed when the IDF soldiers intercepted their car, thwarting the attack. 32

Youth Influence

Palestinian Islamic Jihad has influenced much of the education and formation of youth in Hamas-controlled Gaza. A 2012 article described a PIJ kindergarten graduation ceremony where children dressed up in military uniforms, waved toy rifles, and held images of PIJ founder Fathi Shaqaqi. One graduating child said, “‘When I grow up I’ll join Islamic Jihad and the al-Quds Brigades […] I love the resistance and the martyrs and Palestine, and I want to blow myself up on Zionists and kill them on a bus in a suicide bombing.’” 33

Leadership

Ziyad al-Nakhalah was elected secretary general of Palestinian Islamic Jihad in September 2018, succeeding Ramadan Shalah. Al-Nakhalah was re-elected for a second term in February 2023. Before becoming secretary general, Al-Nakhala was deputy secretary general of the movement between 1995 and 2018. 34

In January 2014, the United States Department of State designated him as a Global Terrorist, which froze his property and interests in the United States. He has been detained by Israel a number of times since 1971. 35

In March 2024, Al-Nakhala thanked the Iranian government for its military support in what it and Hamas call Operation al-Aqsa Flood, the militant factions’ name for the October 7 attack. Al-Nakhala said, “It would not have been easy for the Palestinian people to achieve this blessed steadfastness in the battle for the al-Aqsa Flood [operation] without the unwavering, clear and continuous Iranian support in recent years, at all political, military […] levels.” 36

Muhammad al-Hindi has been the Deputy Secretary General of PIJ since 2018 and is a member of PIJ’s political bureau. Al-Hindi was born in 1955 in Gaza and currently resides in Damascus. In 2019, the United States added Al-Hindi to its list of Specially Designated Global Terrorists. 37

Akram al-Ajouri is a senior member of Palestinian Islamic Jihad and leader of the Al-Quds Brigade. He was first elected to the group’s politburo in September 2018 and “is viewed as the strongest figure inside the Islamic Jihad Movement.” He maintains close ties with Iran’s Quds Force and Lebanon’s Hezbollah. In November 2019, Al-Ajouri survived an Israeli missile strike against his home which killed his son. 38

Finances

Historically, the funding for Palestinian Islamic Jihad comes from the Islamic Republic of Iran while other training and support comes from Hamas, entities within Syria, and the radical Lebanese Shia Islamist political party and terrorist organization Hezbollah. 39

According to a 2016 source, PIJ received a promise of $70 million United States dollars in financial support from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps of Iran once PIJ publicly supported the Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen. Iran remains a prominent financial sponsor of both Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad. 40

References

  1. ISLAMIC JIHAD (PIJ). European Council on Foreign Relations. Accessed June 30, 2024. https://ecfr.eu/special/mapping_palestinian_politics/palestinian_islamic_ jihad/
  2. Acinapura, Antonella. “Palestinian Islamic Jihad: what you need to know about the militant group.” The Conversation. January 31, 2024. Accessed June 30, 2024. https://theconversation.com/palestinian-islamic-jihad-what-you-need-to-know-about-the-militant-group-222010
  3. Skare, Erik. “Iran, Hamas, and Islamic Jihad: A marriage of convenience.” European Council on Foreign Relations. December 18, 2023. Accessed June 30, 2024. https://ecfr.eu/article/iran-hamas-and-islamic-jihad-a-marriage-of-convenience/
  4. Palestinian Terror Groups: Palestine Islamic Jihad. Jewish Virtual Library. Accessed June 30, 2024. https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/palestine-islamic-jihad
  5. Acinapura, Antonella. “Palestinian Islamic Jihad: what you need to know about the militant group.” The Conversation. January 31, 2024. Accessed June 30, 2024. https://theconversation.com/palestinian-islamic-jihad-what-you-need-to-know-about-the-militant-group-222010
  6. Marlowe, Lara. “INTERVIEW WITH A FANATIC.” Time. February 6, 1995. Accessed June 30, 2024 https://time.com/archive/6726807/interview-with-a-fanatic/
  7. ISLAMIC JIHAD (PIJ). European Council on Foreign Relations. Accessed June 30, 2024. https://ecfr.eu/special/mapping_palestinian_politics/palestinian_islamic_ jihad/
  8. ISLAMIC JIHAD (PIJ). European Council on Foreign Relations. Accessed June 30, 2024. https://ecfr.eu/special/mapping_palestinian_politics/palestinian_islamic_ jihad/
  9. PALESTINE ISLAMIC JIHAD (PIJ). Department of National Intelligence–Counterterrorism Guide. February 2023. Accessed June 30, 2024. https://www.dni.gov/nctc/ftos/pij_fto.html
  10. “Palestinian Factions: Hamas and PIJ.” Wilson Center. November 3, 2023. Accessed June 30, 2024. https://www.wilsoncenter.org/article/palestinians-hamas-and-pij
  11. “What is Islamic Jihad? The Hamas ally at war with Israel.” Reuters. October 18, 2023. https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/what-is-islamic-jihad-hamas-ally-war-with-israel-2023-10-18/
  12. Skare, Erik. “Iran, Hamas, and Islamic Jihad: A marriage of convenience.” European Council on Foreign Relations. December 18, 2023. Accessed June 30, 2024. https://ecfr.eu/article/iran-hamas-and-islamic-jihad-a-marriage-of-convenience/
  13. Palestinian Terror Groups: Palestine Islamic Jihad. Jewish Virtual Library. Accessed June 30, 2024. https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/palestine-islamic-jihad
  14. “Palestinian accused in bus crash.” Rome News-Tribune. July 7, 1989. Accessed June 30, 2024. https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=YaEHAAAAIBAJ&sjid= ljUDAAAAIBAJ&pg=5436%2C971561
  15. Middle East Overview. Patterns of Global Terrorism: 1990. Accessed June 30, 2024. https://fas.org/irp/threat/terror_90/mideast.html
  16.  Palestinian Terror Groups: Palestine Islamic Jihad. Jewish Virtual Library. Accessed June 30, 2024. https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/palestine-islamic-jihad
  17.  ISLAMIC JIHAD (PIJ). European Council on Foreign Relations. Accessed June 30, 2024. https://ecfr.eu/special/mapping_palestinian_politics/palestinian_islamic_ jihad/
  18. AL-QUDS BRIGADES (AQB) – ISLAMIC JIHAD. European Council on Foreign Relations. Accessed June 30, 2024. https://ecfr.eu/special/mapping_palestinian _politics/al_quds_brigades_aqb_islamic_jihad/
  19. “Gaza: Armed Palestinian Groups Commit Grave Crimes.” Human Rights Watch. June 12, 2007. Accessed June 30, 2024. https://www.hrw.org/news/2007/06/12/ gaza-armed-palestinian-groups-commit-grave-crimes
  20. “Journalists slam use of ‘press vehicle’ by Gaza militants.” International News Safety Institute. June 10, 2007. Accessed June 30, 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/200709 27005056/http://www.newssafety.com/hotspots/countries/gaza/afp/gaza100607.htm
  21.  PALESTINE ISLAMIC JIHAD (PIJ). Department of National Intelligence–Counterterrorism Guide. February 2023. Accessed June 30, 2024. https://www.dni.gov/nctc/ftos/pij_fto.html
  22. PALESTINE ISLAMIC JIHAD (PIJ). Department of National Intelligence–Counterterrorism Guide. February 2023. Accessed June 30, 2024. https://www.dni.gov/nctc/ftos/pij_fto.html
  23.  PALESTINE ISLAMIC JIHAD (PIJ). Department of National Intelligence–Counterterrorism Guide. February 2023. Accessed June 30, 2024. https://www.dni.gov/nctc/ftos/pij_fto.html
  24. PALESTINE ISLAMIC JIHAD (PIJ). Department of National Intelligence–Counterterrorism Guide. February 2023. Accessed June 30, 2024. https://www.dni.gov/nctc/ftos/pij_fto.html
  25. “Palestinian Islamic Jihad chief thanks Iran for military support.” Yahoo! News. March 30, 2024. Accessed June 30, 2024. https://www.yahoo.com/news/palestinian-islamic-jihad-chief-thanks-192644896.html?guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAABIoyPI3v1EwcHNXIvHhej51hbnESaIviK__TcxCGbXLlgoYSdi7D5iJeTVeLcbwIc6065kcxNeqQeeWRy4qzIF81_Q6VacQYpAMax48Mg43DV0Dou9bxSjBw_lu-pXXq68A5qbWyvgbHZgjzlm_fn8X9s5cmFiX8kJWlmGFq3fA
  26. Blinken, Anthony J. “Designating Additional Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad Officials and Supporters.” U.S. Department of State. November 14, 2023. Accessed June 30, 2024. https://www.state.gov/designating-additional-hamas-and-palestinian- islamic-jihad-officials-and-supporters/
  27. “COUNCIL DECISION of 21 December 2005.” Official Journal of the European Union. December 23, 2005. Accessed June 30, 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20090205010122/http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/site/en/oj/2005/l_340/l_34020051223en00640066.pdf
  28. Terrorism Act 2000. Legislation.gov.UK. Accessed June 30, 2024. https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2000/11/schedule/2
  29. Currently listed entities. Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Canada. Accessed June 30, 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20061119150657/http://www.psepc.gc.ca /prg/ns/le/cle-en.asp
  30. Palestinian Islamic Jihad. Australian National Security. August 18, 2012. Accessed June 30, 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20150309110622/http://www.national security.gov.au/Listedterroristorganisations/Pages/PalestinianIslamicJihad.aspx
  31. STATEMENT OF CASE TO RENEW THE DESIGNATION OF PALESTINIAN ISLAMIC JIHAD (PIJ) AS A TERRORIST ENTITY. New Zealand Police. October 2, 2013. Accessed June 30, 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/2014101911401 3/http://www.police.govt.nz/sites/default/files/publications/renew-pij-2-oct-2013.pdf
  32. “Palestinian Islamic Jihad Terrorists Planning Attack Eliminated in West Bank by IDF.” Foundation for Defense of Democracies. June 21, 2024. Accessed June 30, 2024. https://www.fdd.org/analysis/2024/06/21/palestinian-islamic-jihad-terrorists-planning-attack-eliminated-in-west-bank-by-idf/
  33. Levy, Elior. “Gaza kindergartners want to ‘blow up Zionists.’” YNet News. June 12, 2012. Accessed June 30, 2024. https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4241588, 00.html
  34. ZIYAD AL-NAKHALAH. European Council on Foreign Relations. Accessed June 30, 2024. https://ecfr.eu/special/mapping_palestinian_politics/ziyad_al_nakhalah/
  35. ZIYAD AL-NAKHALAH. European Council on Foreign Relations. Accessed June 30, 2024. https://ecfr.eu/special/mapping_palestinian_politics/ziyad_al_nakhalah/
  36. “Palestinian Islamic Jihad chief thanks Iran for military support.” Yahoo! News. March 30, 2024. Accessed June 30, 2024. https://www.yahoo.com/news/palestinian-islamic-jihad-chief-thanks-192644896.html?guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAABIoyPI3v1EwcHNXIvHhej51hbnESaIviK__TcxCGbXLlgoYSdi7D5iJeTVeLcbwIc6065kcxNeqQeeWRy4qzIF81_Q6VacQYpAMax48Mg43DV0Dou9bxSjBw_lu-pXXq68A5qbWyvgbHZgjzlm_fn8X9s5cmFiX8kJWlmGFq3fA
  37. MUHAMMAD AL-HINDI. European Council on Foreign Relations. Accessed June 30, 2024. https://ecfr.eu/special/mapping_palestinian_politics/muhammad-al-hindi/
  38. AKRAM AL-AJOURI. European Council on Foreign Relations. Accessed June 30, 2024. https://ecfr.eu/special/mapping_palestinian_politics/akram_al_ajouri/
  39. Skare, Erik. “Iran, Hamas, and Islamic Jihad: A marriage of convenience.” European Council on Foreign Relations. December 18, 2023. Accessed June 30, 2024. https://ecfr.eu/article/iran-hamas-and-islamic-jihad-a-marriage-of-convenience/
  40. Groisman, Maayan. “Iran to renew financial support for Islamic Jihad after two-year hiatus.” The Jerusalem Post. May 25, 2016. Accessed June 30, 2024. https://www.jpost.com/Middle-East/Reembracing-Islamic-Jihad-Iran-to-renew-%EF%AC%81nancial-aid-for-Palestinian-terror-group-454968
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