Islamic Jihad-Hamas tensions worsened during Israeli operation – analysis

Palestinian Islamic Jihad militants gather at a mourning house for Palestinians who were killed during Israel-Gaza fighting, as a ceasefire holds, in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip August 8, 2022. (credit: REUTERS/IBRAHEEM ABU MUSTAFA)

Hours after the ceasefire in the Gaza Strip went into effect on Sunday night, Hamas and Islamic Jihad announced that they would not allow Israel to drive a wedge between the two groups.

Palestinian sources in the Gaza Strip, however, insisted on Monday that the already-tense relations between Hamas and Islamic Jihad have been further strained by the most recent round of fighting with Israel.

“Many Islamic Jihad supporters are disappointed and feel betrayed because Hamas did not join the fighting,” the sources said. “Senior Hamas and Islamic Jihad officials did not even talk to each other directly during the three days of the fighting. They were communicating only through external parties, especially Egypt and Qatar.”

“Senior Hamas and Islamic Jihad officials did not even talk to each other directly during the three days of the fighting. They were communicating only through external parties, especially Egypt and Qatar.” Palestinian sources in the Gaza Strip

Hamas has come under attack by other Palestinians for failing to join Islamic Jihad and other armed groups in firing rockets at Israel during the latest round of fighting, which began on Friday afternoon.

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