Overview

Husayn Juaythini is a U.S.- and U.N.-designated Palestinian terrorist and a facilitator for ISIS. According to the United Nations, Juaithini is responsible for “participating in the financing, planning, facilitating, preparing, or perpetrating of acts or activities by…[ISIS].”“QDi.394: Husayn Juaythini,” United Nation Security Council Subsidiary Organs, April 20, 2016, https://www.un.org/sc/suborg/en/search/content/Husayn%20Juaythini. He is believed to operate out of Gaza.“Security Council ISIL (Da’esh) and Al-Qaida Sanctions Committee Adds Five Entries to Its Sanctions List,” United Nations Security Council, April 20, 2016, http://www.un.org/press/en/2016/sc12332.doc.htm.

Juaythini is the Deputy Leader of the Mujahidin Shura Council in the Environs of Jerusalem (MSC), a U.S.-designated terrorist organization based in Gaza that seeks to conduct attacks against Israel.Julie Hirschfeld Davis, “U.S. Issues Sanctions Against Three ISIS Leaders, New York Times, February 11, 2016, http://www.nytimes.com/2016/02/12/world/middleeast/us-issues-sanctions-against-three-isis-leaders.html; “Security Council ISIL (Da’esh) and Al-Qaida Sanctions Committee Adds Five Entries to Its Sanctions List,” United Nations Security Council, April 20, 2016, http://www.un.org/press/en/2016/sc12332.doc.htm. In 2013, Juaythini worked to acquire supplies for MSC to wage attacks on the Jewish state. Juaythini also worked with a Libyan-based facilitator who provided weapons and money to fuel Juaythini’s undertakings in Gaza.“Treasury Sanctions Key ISIL Leaders and Facilitators Including a Senior Oil Official,” U.S. Department of the Treasury, February 11, 2016, https://www.treasury.gov/press-center/press-releases/Pages/jl0351.aspx.

Juaythini was made deputy leader of MSC in mid-2014.“Treasury Sanctions Key ISIL Leaders and Facilitators Including a Senior Oil Official,” U.S. Department of the Treasury, February 11, 2016, https://www.treasury.gov/press-center/press-releases/Pages/jl0351.aspx. As a leader of the group, Juaythini traveled to Syria in September 2014 to pledge allegiance to Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.Thomas Joscelyn, “Treasury sanctions Islamic State oil and religious officials, facilitator in Gaza,” Long War Journal, February 11, 2016, http://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2016/02/treasury-sanctions-islamic-state-oil-and-religious-officials-facilitator-in-gaza.php. According to the U.S. Treasury, Juaythini was “tasked to return to Gaza and establish a foothold for” ISIS’s global network there. He is described as “the link” between al-Baghdadi and armed groups in Gaza.“Treasury Sanctions Key ISIL Leaders and Facilitators Including a Senior Oil Official,” U.S. Department of the Treasury, February 11, 2016, https://www.treasury.gov/press-center/press-releases/Pages/jl0351.aspx. Juaythini reportedly allocated funds from al-Baghdadi in order to build a presence for ISIS in the Palestinian Territories.Thomas Joscelyn, “Treasury sanctions Islamic State oil and religious officials, facilitator in Gaza,” Long War Journal, February 11, 2016, http://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2016/02/treasury-sanctions-islamic-state-oil-and-religious-officials-facilitator-in-gaza.php.

According to the U.S. Treasury, Juaythini was “instrumental” in bolstering ties between Gazan- and Libyan-based jihadists and assisting their travel to Syria. Juaythini’s facilitation network in Gaza serves as ISIS’s epicenter through which it funnels foreign fighters from North Africa into Syria.“Treasury Sanctions Key ISIL Leaders and Facilitators Including a Senior Oil Official,” U.S. Department of the Treasury, February 11, 2016, https://www.treasury.gov/press-center/press-releases/Pages/jl0351.aspx.

On February 11, 2016, the U.S. Treasury designated Juaythini as a foreign fighter facilitator for ISIS. The designation alleges Juaythini provided support services to the group by “facilitating communications and the movement of foreign terrorist fighters and conducting financial activities.”“Treasury Sanctions Key ISIL Leaders and Facilitators Including a Senior Oil Official,” U.S. Department of the Treasury, February 11, 2016, https://www.treasury.gov/press-center/press-releases/Pages/jl0351.aspx. On April 20, 2016, the United Nations Security Council placed Juaythini on its ISIL (Da’esh) and Al-Qaida Sanctions List as a facilitator for ISIS.“QDi.394: Husayn Juaythini,” United Nation Security Council Subsidiary Organs, April 20, 2016, https://www.un.org/sc/suborg/en/search/content/Husayn%20Juaythini; “Security Council ISIL (Da’esh) and Al-Qaida Sanctions Committee Adds Five Entries to Its Sanctions List,” United Nations Security Council, April 20, 2016, http://www.un.org/press/en/2016/sc12332.doc.htm.