Hamas and Islamic Jihad agree to develop relationship and coordination

Hamas and Islamic Jihad have agreed to develop their relationship and raise the level of coordination between them in all political and operational areas. The two Palestinian movements issued a press statement following a high-level meeting in Gaza City on Sunday.

Both groups asserted their adherence to the national principles and agreed not to act against them. They stressed that resistance to Israel’s occupation is the strategic option in order to “liberate Palestine”.

They also confirmed their commitment to Palestinian reconciliation and the implementation of the whole agreement in this regard. The national government should assume responsibilities for the Gaza Strip, they insisted.

Hamas was founded in December 1987 by Shaikh Ahmad Yasin, among others; its roots are in the Muslim Brotherhood. Islamic Jihad is slightly older, having been founded by Fathi El-Shikaki in 1980; he joined the Brotherhood whilst studying in Egypt but then left to establish the jihad movement.

There have been differences between the two groups over several issues, including the place of armed resistance in the liberation struggle, with the Brotherhood adopting an approach for the education and preparation of special cadres to fight against the Israeli occupation. Islamic Jihad, meanwhile, demanded immediate armed struggle and supported the Islamic Revolution in Iran; it maintains distinct relations with Tehran and Hezbollah in Lebanon.

The relationship between Hamas and Iran was strained when the Palestinian movement refused to support the Bashar Al-Assad regime following the outbreak of the Syrian revolution in 2011. It is believed that relations have been resumed following a visit to Tehran by a Hamas delegation in December.