Inside Look: The Financial Network Underpinning the Palestinian Islamic Jihad

Group Profile

The Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) is Gaza's second-largest terrorist organization after Hamas. Despite being established before Hamas, PIJ remains a smaller organization with less power and influence. PIJ’s relatively weaker status is partly due to its sole focus on militancy instead of social service provision — a strategy that has limited its public support. PIJ is also mainly sustained by Iranian funding, limiting its ability to operate independently. 

What else do we know about PIJ’s financial capabilities and activities? Keep reading to find out.

Origins and Operations

The Palestinian Islamic Jihad was formed in 1981 by a group of Palestinian students in Egypt, wanting to create an independent Palestinian state. PIJ is the second-largest militant faction in the Gaza Strip and is more ideologically extreme than Hamas. While there are instances of operational coordination between the two groups, PIJ has not always supported Hamas’s strategies in the ongoing conflict with Israel, leading to a complex and sometimes strained relationship.

Although PIJ primarily operates in Gaza to target Israel, it also has a notable presence in the West Bank, particularly in the town of Jenin. Additionally, PIJ has offices in Tehran and the group’s leadership figures are located throughout Lebanon and Syria. Membership estimates for PIJ vary, with figures ranging from 1,000 to 8,000 militants.