Overview[1]
- During August 2024, the ISIS weekly al-Nabā’ published two editorials referring to Hamas in connection with the war in the Gaza Strip.
- ISIS rejected Hamas’ methods, accusing the Sunni movement of cooperating with the Iranian-led Shi’ite axis and stating that the only way to deal with Israel and the Jews was a jihad (according to ISIS’s perception).
- In ITIC assessment, the editorials are an ISIS attempt to exploit the war in the Gaza Strip, and especially criticism of Hamas, to recruit supporters and operatives. They also indicate ISIS’s fear of Iranian expansion in the region and of its Shi’ite allies.
ISIS Relates to the War in the Gaza Strip
- Since the Hamas attack and massacre against Israel on October 7, 2023, ISIS has found itself in a complex situation. On the one hand, it supports a war of attrition against Israel and against Jews in general;[2] on the other, the war in Gaza is led by ISIS’s bitter rivals, Hamas, an offshoot of the Muslim Brotherhood, often referred by ISIS as al-Ikhwan al-Murtaddin, the “Apostate Brotherhood;” and Hezbollah, regularly called by ISIS Hizb al-Shaytan, the Party of Satan. Also participating in the war are branches of Iran’s Shi’ite axis, ISIS’s sworn enemies (ISIS considers Shi’ites as infidels and calls them rawafid, “refusers,” a derogatory Sunni term for Shi’ites)
- In August 2024, al-Nabā’, the ISIS weekly magazine, published two editorials stating the organization’s rejection of Hamas’ methods and actions, and accusing the movement of collaborating with the “Shi’ite axis.” ISIS stated that the only way to deal with Israel and the Jews was by waging jihad and the application of Islamic law (Sharia) according to the organization’s perception.
- On August 1, 2024, al-Nabā’ Issue #454, published an editorial entitled, “Those who would perish”[3] (al-Nabā’, Telegram, August 1, 2024):
- Hamas, which cooperates with Iran in the “rejection front”[4] [“resistance axis”[5]], worsens the situation of the Palestinians and causes the destruction of the Gaza Strip while serving Iranians interests.
- Referring to the killing of Isma’il Haniyeh, head of Hamas’ political bureau (called “tyrant”, “leader of the appeasers” and “icon of polytheistic democracy”), in Tehran on July 31, 2024, the editorial stated it could testify to the fact that Iran was incapable of protecting its proxies, and speculated that Iran was even willing to sacrifice its “tail” [that is, the leader of a proxy] in order to save itself by not getting involved in a comprehensive war.
- According to the editorial, Haniyeh was loyal to the “axis of reluctance” until his last breach while irritating and annoying the Sunni community, and therefore he received his punishment from Allah. The editorial accused the operatives of the Palestinian organizations loyal to the “axis of reluctance” of destroying the Gaza Strip for the sake of Iranian interests, adding that swallowing Iranian bait brings destruction to the Sunni community, whose members must adhere to Islamic law (Sharia) and their faith.
- The editorial pointed out that the killing Haniyeh was part of a chain, first Saleh al-‘Arouri, deputy head of Hamas’ political bureau, was killed in Beirut on January 2, 2024 [and then Haniyeh]. According to the article, Iran is not a true partner for the Palestinians, it is incapable of protecting them and is causing their situation to deteriorate.
- As for Hezbollah (Hizb al-Shaytan, “the party of Satan”), the editorial claimed it did everything in its power to evade and deny its responsibility for the rocket attack which killed the Druze children and youth in Majdal Shams,[6] fearing to violate “the rules the confrontation” and international law, and fearing that blame would tarnish the image of the “resistance axis.” Hezbollah, because of its desire to serve Iranian interests, is prepared for the Gaza Strip to burn to the ground along with all its inhabitants.
- At the head of the editorial was a picture of Ali Khamenei, Iran’s supreme leader, in front of Haniyeh’s coffin in Tehran, accompanied by other senior figures of the Iranian regime.
“Those who would perish” (al-Nabā’, August 1, 2024)
- On August 14, 2024, al-Nabā’ Issue #456, published an editorial entitled, “At the time of the massacre,” with a photograph of a rescue worker carrying a girl who was killed in the Gaza Strip (al-Nabā’, August 14, 2024). According to the editorial:
- No peace settlement or reconciliation with Israel is possible and such a solution will lead to more massacres of Muslims.
- Every Israeli “act of massacre” in “Palestine” torments hearts, but then people move on to their normal agenda.
- Neither nationalism, appeasement nor “resistance” [i.e., Hamas and the “resistance axis”] can assuage the Muslims’ pains, the only solution is “divine law” based on jihad in the spirit of [ISIS].
- The faithful Muslim should view the “massacres” of the Palestinians as a link in the chain of “massacres” carried out by the “enemies of Islam” against Muslims throughout time and in different places around the world, such as Iraq, Syria, Yemen, etc.
- The leaders of the Arab countries (“the Arab dictators”) are accused of cooperating with Israel and the United States and defending Israel’s borders.
- The editorial ends by claiming that when “massacres” are committed against Muslims, the response should be a massacre of “infidels.”
“At the time of the massacre” (al-Nabā’, August 14, 2024)
[1] Click https://www.terrorism-info.org.il/en to subscribe and receive the ITIC's daily updates as well as its other publications.
[2] For further information, see the September 4, 2024, ITIC report, "ISIS calls for jihad in Europe to avenge Muslim deaths in the Gaza Strip."
[3] Quote from the Koran, Sura 8 (al-Anfal), verse 42 (...so that those who perish would perish by clear evidence....). The context is the Battle of Badr in the Arabian Peninsula in 634 C.E., in which the army of Muhammad, fought the army of Quraysh. In the chapter it was stated that Allah decreed that the army of the Quraysh would be defeated (hence "the loser" is the Kirish army, "and for the obvious reason" refers to the fact that it is clear that Allah chose to revive the faithful and destroy the infidels).
[4] "Refuser, one who rejects" is a derogatory Shi'ite term for Sunnis.
[5] Iran, Syria, Hezbollah, the Palestinian organizations, the Shi'ite Houthis in Yemen and the pro-Iranian militias in Iraq.
[6] For further information, see the August 2024 ITIC report, "Reactions to the Hezbollah Rocket Attack on Majdal Shams."
