Flag of the Islamic Jihad Terror Organization
While the situation in the Gaza strip has quieted down somewhat with Hamas leaders preferring Qatari cash to daily clashes with the IDF at the border at least for now, other Palestinian forces do not necessarily share this point of view. Chief among them is Ziad Nahallah, the new leader of the Islamic Jihad faction, who is considered to be significantly more extreme than his predecessor if such a thing were possible. In recent interviews to Arab language press, Nahallah expressed his unwavering commitment to the “basic principles of the resistance”, a phrase that suggests armed struggle until the utter and final destruction of Israel. Nahallah also hinted at his organization being active not only at the Gaza Israel border, but also in preparing terror attacks in Judea and Samaria and even participating in anti-Israeli activity alongside Hezbollah at Israel’s northern border with Lebanon under the auspices of the Iranian regime. While Nahallah’s dream of Israel’s destruction is unlikely to be realized and the forces his command are not large, IDF is not underestimating his “genius” in wreaking havoc in the region and his potential for causing Israel significant casualties.
