Palestinian Islamic Jihad
The Islamic Jihad Movement in Palestine (Arabic: حركة الجهاد الإسلامي في فلسطين, Harakat al-Jihād al-Islāmi fi Filastīn), commonly known simply as Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ), is a Palestinian Islamist paramilitary organization formed in 1981.
| Islamic Jihad Movement حركة الجهاد الإسلامي في فلسطين | |
|---|---|
Islamic Jihad Movement logo | |
| Founder | Abd Al Aziz Awda Fathi Shaqaqi |
| Leader | Fathi Shaqaqi (1981–1995) Ramadan Shalah (1995–2018) Ziyad al-Nakhalah (2018–present) |
| Dates of operation | October 1981 – present |
| Split from | Muslim Brotherhood |
| Country | Palestine |
| Active regions | Gaza Strip and Lebanon |
| Ideology | |
| Size | 8,000 (2011) |
| Part of | Alliance of Palestinian Forces Axis of Resistance |
| Allies | State allies: Iran Syria Non-state allies: Hezbollah Hamas |
| Designated as a terrorist group by | Australia Canada European Union Israel New Zealand United Kingdom United States |
| Website | www.saraya.ps |
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PIJ formed as an offshoot of the Muslim Brotherhood and was influenced ideologically in its formation by the Islamic regime in Iran. It is a member of the Alliance of Palestinian Forces, which rejects the Oslo Accords and whose objective is the establishment of a sovereign Islamic Palestinian state. It calls for the military destruction of Israel and rejects a two-state solution. The organization's financial backing has historically come mainly from Syria and Hezbollah. Since 2014, PIJ has seen its power steadily increase with the backing of funds from Iran.
The armed wing of PIJ is Al-Quds Brigades (also known as "Saraya"), also formed in 1981, which is active in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, with its main strongholds in the West Bank being the cities of Hebron and Jenin. Its operations have included suicide bombings, attacks on Israeli civilians, as well as the firing of rockets into Israel, targeting civilians. PIJ has been designated a terrorist organization by the United States, the European Union, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Israel.