| |
 |
|
 |
Palestine Islamic Jihad logo |
|
|
|
|
| |
Palestine Islamic Jihad (PIJ)
The PIJ was formed by militant Palestinians in the Gaza Strip during the 1970s. The group is committed to the creation of an Islamic state in all of historical Palestine and the destruction of Israel through attacks against Israeli military and civilian targets. The group’s central leadership resides in Syria and receives financial assistance primarily from Iran. PIJ refuses to participate in the political process. The group’s paramilitary wing—the al-Quds Brigades—has conducted numerous attacks, including large-scale suicide bombings. PIJ carried out a suicide bombing in the southern Israeli city of Eilat in January 2007, killing three people—the first suicide bombing in the city. The group also has conducted numerous rocket attacks against Israeli targets near the Gaza Strip using indigenously produced rockets. Although US citizens have died in attacks mounted by the PIJ, the group has not directly targeted US interests.
|
|
|
