Syrian Jihadis’ reaction to the Gaza conflict

Abstract

This article examines the reactions of Jihadis and former Jihadis in Syria to the ongoing war on Gaza. This issue is significant because it highlights how groups that initially had a unified stance on the eve of the Syrian conflict in 2011—marked by their opposition to Muslim regimes and a Salafi outlook–later fractured during the Syrian conflict, leading to divergent positions on the war on Gaza. Global Jihadis, including al-Qaeda and Islamic State (IS), adopted very different stances. Al-Qaeda has attempted to soften its previous theological criticisms of Hamas with a cautious praise for the organization and timid attempts at promoting unity. In contrast, IS has remained vehemently opposed to Hamas, arguing that the group fights for non-religious reasons, allies with ‘enemies of Islam’, and does not seek to implement Islamic law. Perhaps the most intriguing perspective comes from former Jihadis, who view Hamas as a political and military model, although they are cautious about the Palestinian group’s praise for Iran and renewed links to the Syrian regime. This research argues that political considerations–such as the need to appeal to specific audiences and the dynamics of cross-factional competition–take precedence over theological concerns. Additionally, it finds that these divergent positions have not led to any violent actions from Syria.