Explainer: Palestinian Islamic Jihad That Israel Blamed For Gaza Hospital Attack

The devastating explosion at a Gaza hospital that Gaza Health Ministry spokesperson claims killed around 500 people has sent shockwaves across the globe.

While Hamas, the governing authority in the Palestinian territory, has placed the blame squarely on Israel, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have pointed the finger at another Palestinian terrorist group for the tragic incident.

The IDF has attributed the deadly blast at Gaza city's Al-Ahli Hospital to the Palestinian terrorist organisation Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ).

According to the IDF, a failed rocket launch by PIJ was responsible for the tragedy.

In response to these allegations, the IDF has released video footage that provides a before-and-after view of the area surrounding the hospital in question.

PIJ is a Sunni Islamist terrorist group established with the primary objective of combating the "Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories" and securing an independent Palestinian state.

Led by figures such as Ziyad al-Nakhalah and Muhammad al-Hindi, PIJ stands as the second-largest Palestinian terrorist organisation after Hamas and maintains a presence in both the Gaza Strip and the West Bank.

The group's military wing, known as the al-Quds Brigades, has been responsible for a multitude of attacks targeting Israeli interests since the 1990s.

While PIJ and Hamas share a common goal of establishing an independent Palestinian state, they differ significantly in terms of ideology and operational strategies.

Hamas, over time, has acquired some political legitimacy and even emerged victorious in the 2006 election in Gaza. On the other hand, PIJ has predominantly remained focused on armed actions.

PIJ rejects the potential for political negotiations to resolve the Israel-Palestinian conflict and firmly advocates military confrontation with the Israeli state.

Additionally, the group holds a critical stance towards the Palestinian Authority and disapproves of agreements such as the Oslo Accords, deeming them insufficient for addressing the underlying issues.

According to experts in counter-terrorism, PIJ finds inspiration in the Iranian revolution and garners support from Iran, Syria, as well as the formidable Lebanese militant organisation, Hezbollah.

Its origins in Palestine can be traced back to a network affiliated with the Muslim Brotherhood, an Egyptian-origin political Islamist group, before evolving into an independent entity.

It's noteworthy that the US Department of State designated PIJ as a foreign terrorist organization back in 1997.

(Also Read: Researcher Explains Why Israel Might Not Be Behind Gaza Hospital Attack)