Palestinian Islamic Jihad
| Islamic Jihad Movement in Palestine حركة الجهاد الإسلامي في فلسطين | |
|---|---|
PIJ logo | |
| Also known as | Palestinian Islamic Jihad |
| Founder | Abd Al Aziz Awda Fathi Shaqaqi |
| Leader | Fathi Shaqaqi (1981–1995) X Ramadan Shalah (1995–2018) Ziyad al-Nakhalah (2018–present) |
| Dates of operation | October 1981 – present |
| Split from | Muslim Brotherhood |
| Country | Palestine |
| Active regions | Palestine Lebanon Syria |
| Ideology | |
| Size | 8,000 (2011) |
| Part of | Palestinian Joint Operations Room Alliance of Palestinian Forces Axis of Resistance |
| Allies | State allies: Iran Syria (until 2024) Non-state allies: Hezbollah Hamas PFLP DFLP |
| Opponents | Israel Palestinian Authority |
| Designated as a terrorist group by | Australia Canada European Union Israel New Zealand United Kingdom United States |
| Part of a series on |
| Jihadism |
|---|
| Islam portal |
The Islamic Jihad Movement in Palestine (Arabic: حركة الجهاد الإسلامي في فلسطين, Ḥarakat al-Jihād al-Islāmi fi Filastīn), commonly known simply as Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ), is an Islamist Palestinian paramilitary organization formed in 1981.
PIJ formed as an offshoot of the Muslim Brotherhood and was influenced ideologically in its formation by the Islamic Revolution 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. PIJ has notably participated in the ongoing Gaza war (2023–present), fighting alongside Hamas and other allied Palestinian factions.
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.