What Is Islamic Jihad?

Some of the fighters involved in the assault led by Hamas militants on Israel belong to Palestinian Islamic Jihad, also known as Islamic Jihad, the second-most powerful Palestinian militant group operating in the Gaza Strip with backing from Iran. Like Hamas, Islamic Jihad is also a U.S.-designated terrorist group.

Ziyad al-Nakhalah, the leader of Palestinian Islamic Jihad, said in a televised speech that his fighters were holding 30 captives, following the breaches by militants into Israel.