Article Author:
Reuters
JERUSALEM — Israeli officials say airstrikes in Gaza target the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) movement, not Hamas, the extremist group that controls the enclave. What is the difference between the two groups?
The PIJ is an extremist group allied with Hamas, both of which have Muslim Brotherhood backgrounds, share a hostility to Israel, and are Muslim. ideologically involved in the creation of a Palestinian State of the Church.
However, the two groups have separate identities and some differences.
Hamas' leaders issued statements softening their commitment to Israel's destruction, but his smaller PIJ made no such move and refuses any compromise.
When describing the airstrike on Israeli television on Friday, Prime Minister Yair Lapid described the group as "an Iranian agent who wants to destroy the state of Israel"
. Although it has as many long-range rockets as Hamas, the PIJ has a sizeable arsenal of small arms, mortars, rockets, and anti-tank missiles, as well as Al-Israel, which has hit many Israeli targets over the years. It has an active armed wing called the Quds, or Jerusalem Brigade.
A commander was killed in a
Friday airstrike, Israel said, commanding the movement's Northern Region, which is responsible for planning attacks against Israeli civilian and military targets. His Tayseer al-Jaabari, a senior commander, died.
According to the CIA's World Factbook, last year's estimates ranged from around 1,000 to several thousand, making it difficult to obtain up-to-date figures on PIJ strength.
Hamas and his PIJ, which has fought five of his conflicts with Israel since 2009, are listed as terrorist organizations by the West. Both have obtained funds and weapons from Iran, and PIJ leader Ziyad al-Nahra was reportedly meeting Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi on the day of the strike.
Unlike Hamas, the PIJ has refused to participate in elections and appears to have no ambition to form a government in Gaza or the West Bank.
WEST BANK
Maintains an important presence in Jenin, a town on the West Bank. There, the movement's senior leader, Bassam al-Saadi, was arrested last week, sparking a crisis. to strike on Friday.
But its focus on extremist activity is similar to Hamas, which has ruled Gaza since 2007 and is in charge of day-to-day affairs with the government. It means having no infrastructure or responsibilities. Needs of over 2.3 million people.
Although the 11-day war in May 2021 has taken a heavy toll on Gaza's economy in just over a year, Israel's clear focus on PIJ targets has left Hamas with the fight itself. appears to be intended to persuade them to stay away from
In 2012 and Zvika Haimovich, a former commander of the Israeli Air Force who took part in the previous operation against Gaza in 2014, he said there was a serious disagreement with the PIJ, Hamas. said they may not participate.
"It is Hamas's immediate immediate interest not to participate in this operation," he said.
"If Hamas were to join this operation, the situation we are talking about would change completely." (Reporting by James Mackenzie, Editing by Jason Neely)