Senior Palestinian Islamic Jihad and Hamas figures praise Iran’s military support and threaten that in the next war the rocket fire from the Gaza Strip will reach all the cities in Israel and the “resistance axis” will coordinate its actions on all fronts.

The Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) leadership recently visited Iran and Lebanon to meet with the Iranian leadership and Hezbollah secretary general Hassan Nasrallah. They also gave interviews where they the deep bond between Iran and the “Palestinian resistance.” Recent statements from both PIJ and Hamas spokesmen were more focused and to a certain extent more detailed about the Iranian support and its influence on a future war with Israel (after a long period during which PIJ and Hamas spokesmen were vague regarding Iranian support). In ITIC assessment, that is because both organizations want to increase their deterrence of Israel and to reward Iran with public praise for its military and financial support. Iran wants to show itself as the main supporter of the Palestinian organizations to increase its influence in the Gaza Strip to improve its status vis-à-vis Egypt.

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