Last weekend we witnessed Palestinian militants firing rockets from Gaza into Israel. Islamic Jihad, the smaller of the two militant groups in Gaza, shot around 1175 rockets towards Israel. After two days of violence, a ceasefire took place. According to the IDF, more than 100 of these rockets fell short in Gaza, killing at least nine people, including children. Thanks to Israel’s advanced weaponry, they were able to eliminate all the leaders of this group.
Who is this Islamic Jihad group? Just like the PLO, al Qa’eda, ISIS, and Hamas – they have their spiritual roots in the Society of Muslim Brothers (or Muslim Brotherhood) – Jamāʿat al–Ikhwān al–Muslimīn).
Their slogan is “Islam is the solution.” They teach that Palestine could be “freed from the danger of Jewish domination” through “an organized and methodical armed struggle.” The logo of a Qur’an in one hand and a rifle in the other today serves as a symbol for both the PIJ and Hamas.
The strategic goal of the Muslim Brotherhood is multifold: the destruction of Western civilization through a long-term civilization-killing Jihad from within (“by their [our] hands”) and through sabotage (“the hands of the believers”). Secondly, they support the global Islamic movement to establish an Islamic super-state, the Caliphate.
Jihad is their solution to liberate the Holy Land. The Islamization of “the Zionist enemy” is their goal. They reject any peaceful solution for the “Palestinian cause” and affirm the jihad solution and martyrdom as the only option for their “liberation”. Their goal is to create a state of terror, instability, and panic in the souls of Zionists and especially the groups of settlers, forcing them to leave their homes.
For them, Islam is the only solution for the conflict. Jihad is their way to liberation. Their martyrdom awards eternal life in paradise. Victory or martyrdom is the only way for jihad.
A peaceful solution based on recognizing the right of Jews in Israel or in part of it is a solution that contradicts the logic of their Qur’an. “The Qur’an is our constitution; Jihad is our path; Victory to Islam; Death to Israel; Revolution, revolution until the victory.”( Hasan Al-Banna, founder of the Muslim Brotherhood)
It is clear that the “Palestinian Jihad” (PIJ) is a murderous terror organization, which invests much time and effort in killing Jews and Israelis. PIJ and the Islamic Republic of Iran have been much involved in planning terror and rocket attacks on Israel over the years. This is the root behind the conflict and recent events in Gaza and Israel. It is Tehran that coordinates the moves. PIJ is quite open about the military equipment and support it receives from Iran – aid which has reached a total of $70 million per year.
Iran’s strategy in preparing to annihilate Israel involves supporting Hamas and PIJ on the west, Hezbollah on the northwest, Syria on the northeast, and Yemenite Houthi drone armies on the farther east. Iran itself is hard at work developing nuclear weapons, cruise missiles and drone armies for its own use, as well as conventional rockets and missiles to send through Damascus International Airport for trans-shipment to Lebanon and Gaza.
The relations between Hamas and PIJ have sometimes been good, and at other times rocky. However, both groups have Muslim Brotherhood roots and share the twin goals of destroying Israel and replacing it with a Palestinian state ruled by an Islamic government.
Understanding this background, the world should realize that ceasefires with jihadi Islamists are not worth the paper they are written on. They will never last.
Standing with Israel 