Overview

Mohammed al-Hindi is a U.S.-designated senior member of Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) and head of its political bureau.“Executive Order Amending Counter Terrorism Sanctions Authorities; Counter Terrorism Designations and Designations Updates; Iran-related Designation; Syria Designations Updates,” U.S. Department of the Treasury, September 10, 2019, https://ofac.treasury.gov/recent-actions/20190910; “Mapping Palestinian Politics – Muhammad al-Hindi,” European Council on Foreign Relations, accessed May 16, 2023, https://ecfr.eu/special/mapping_palestinian_politics/muhammad-al-hindi/.

PIJ elected Hindi as its deputy secretary-general in September 2018. The position had previously been held by Ziad al-Nakhalah, whom PIJ elected as its secretary-general.“Iran-backed Palestinian Islamic Jihad names new leader,” Associated Press, September 28, 2018, https://apnews.com/d14e7e6a4a68481980b6db8052853f03; “Palestinian Islamic Jihad chooses new leader, remains close to Iran,” Times of Israel, September 28, 2018, https://www.timesofisrael.com/palestinian-islamic-jihad-chooses-new-leader-remains-close-to-iran/. At that point Hindi had lived in Turkey for two years. PIJ elected Nakhalah as its secretary-general. Iran reportedly believed Hindi had close ties with the Muslim Brotherhood and Hamas, and feared he would sway PIJ toward a Brotherhood agenda and away from Iran. According to news reports, Iran preferred Hindi serve as deputy leader under Nakhalah.Ahmad Abu Amer, “Has Iran’s influence increased in Palestinian arena?” Al-Monitor, October 16, 2018, https://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2018/10/palestinian-islamic-jihad-elections-iran-influence.html. In March 2023, PIJ elected Hindi as a member of its political bureau.“Islamic Jihad members re-elect Ziad Nakhala as secretary-general,” Middle East Monitor, March 6, 2023, https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230306-islamic-jihad-members-re-elect-ziad-nakhala-as-secretary-general/. He has since been reported as the head of the political bureau.“Mapping Palestinian Politics – Muhammad al-Hindi,” European Council on Foreign Relations, accessed May 16, 2023, https://ecfr.eu/special/mapping_palestinian_politics/muhammad-al-hindi/.

As a top political leader and spokesman for PIJ, Hindi has a hard position against Israel while voicing support for PIJ’s so-called armed resistance. In January 2005, the Palestinian Authority (PA) began ceasefire talks with PIJ, Hamas, and other Palestinian militants to end the second intifada uprising, which had begun in 2000. Hindi told media PIJ would listen to what Abbas had to say, but “nothing can be given for free.”“Abbas gets one last chance as talks resume,” Irish Examiner (Cork), January 19, 2005, https://www.irishexaminer.com/world/arid-30185462.html. In February, the PA reached a ceasefire agreement with Israel to end the second intifada. PIJ and Hamas agreed to the ceasefire that March. In June, however, Hindi threatened PIJ would withdraw from the ceasefire because of continued Israeli aggression.“Palestinian militants threaten to call off ceasefire,” Irish Examiner (Cork), June 13, 2005, https://www.irishexaminer.com/world/arid-30206907.html. As Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas met with U.S. President George W. Bush and Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert at a summit in Annapolis, Maryland, in November 2007, Palestinians held rallies across the West Bank and Gaza to protest the conference, meant to relaunch the Israeli-Palestinian peace process. Hindi told one anti-Annapolis rally in Gaza Palestinians would make no concessions and would defend their land with blood.Nidal al-Mughrabi, “Abbas slammed as "traitor" at anti-Annapolis rallies,” Reuters, November 27, 2007, https://www.reuters.com/article/us-palestinians-israel-gaza/abbas-slammed-as-traitor-at-anti-annapolis-rallies-idUSL2757385120071127, Hindi has also accused the PA of being a tool of the “Israeli occupation.”“Islamic Jihad 'preparing for big battle' with Israel,” Middle East Monitor, November 23, 2022, https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20221123-islamic-jihad-preparing-for-big-battle-with-israel/. According to Hindi, Israel needs a strong PA and its security services to “guard the occupation state and maintain the security of its settlers.”“Islamic Jihad 'preparing for big battle' with Israel,” Middle East Monitor, November 23, 2022, https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20221123-islamic-jihad-preparing-for-big-battle-with-israel/.

Hindi has also mirrored PIJ’s anti-U.S. position. In April 2004, Palestinians held rallies to commemorate the first anniversary of the fall of Baghdad following the U.S. invasion of Iraq the year before. Hindi praised Iraqi militants fighting against the United States, claiming they are fighting the same battle.“Palestinians urge holy war in Iraq,” Irish Examiner (Cork), April 9, 2004, https://www.irishexaminer.com/world/arid-30142171.html.

Hindi has repeatedly praised PIJ’s violent activities against Israel while calling on the Palestinian general population to support his group’s terrorist activities as part of a quest for freedom. In August 2022, Israel launched Operation Breaking Dawn against PIJ in the Gaza Strip. The operation began with the August 1 arrest of PIJ West Bank commander Bassem Saadi, along with his son-in-law and aide, Ashraf al-Jada, eliciting a volley of PIJ rockets into Gaza. During the ensuing conflict, PIJ fired at least 1,100 rockets over the course of three days while Israel launched 147 airstrikes in Gaza. Hindi called on Palestinian in the West Bank to launch a “popular resistance” against Israel.“Islamic Jihad calls for ‘popular resistance’ against Israel in West Bank,” Jerusalem Post, August 7, 2022, https://www.jpost.com/breaking-news/article-714093; “Fresh Israel-Palestinian Islamic Jihad truce prevents ‘full-scale war,’” U.N. News, August 8, 2022, https://news.un.org/en/story/2022/08/1124212; “As Gaza ceasefire holds, Israel lifts all security restrictions,” Times of Israel, August 8, 2022, https://www.timesofisrael.com/israel-starts-rolling-back-security-restrictions-as-gaza-ceasefire-holds/; Tia Goldenberg and Joseph Krauss, “Misfired rockets may have killed over a dozen in Gaza battle,” Associated Press, August 7, 2022, https://apnews.com/article/middle-east-israel-tel-aviv-403d37366347e0f2446e2f90a9b0d02f.

Between May 9 and May 14, 2023, Israel killed six senior PIJ leaders and struck 371 targets in Gaza. During that timeframe, PIJ launched more than 1,234 rockets, of which 221 fell inside Gaza. Israel intercepted approximately 373 rockets. Israel reported one fatality, while Palestinian sources report 34 Palestinian fatalities, including 15 civilians.Tovah Lazaroff, Khaled Abu Toameh, and Yonah Jeremy Bob, “IDF strikes Hamas posts in Gaza in response to renewed rocket fire,” Jerusalem Post, last updated May 14, 2023, https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-742947. Hindi publicly claimed there was consensus between PIJ and Hamas in confronting Israel.“Al-Hindi: Attempts to drive a wedge between Resistance factions will fail,” Middle East Monitor, May 11, 2023, https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230511-al-hindi-attempts-to-drive-a-wedge-between-resistance-factions-will-fail/. On May 11, he arrived in Cairo to represent PIJ in ceasefire talks. The Egyptian intelligence services had reportedly requested the presence of Nakhalah, but PIJ instead sent Hindi.“Islamic Jihad chief in Cairo as Gaza ceasefire efforts falter overnight,” New Arab, May 11, 2023, https://www.newarab.com/news/pij-chief-cairo-gaza-ceasefire-efforts-falter. A ceasefire went into effect late on May 13. On May 14, a rocket allegedly misfired from Gaza due to a technical error. Hindi claimed PIJ would maintain the ceasefire as long as Israel does.Tovah Lazaroff, Khaled Abu Toameh, and Yonah Jeremy Bob, “IDF strikes Hamas posts in Gaza in response to renewed rocket fire,” Jerusalem Post, last updated May 14, 2023, https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-742947. Hindi praised Iran for its support during the conflict. He told the Iranian Mehr News Agency Israel had sought to restore deterrence by assassinating top PIJ leaders but had failed. He accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of “begging for a ceasefire.”“Israel raided Gaza to restore its hallucinatory deterrence,” Mehr News Agency, May 15, 2023, https://en.mehrnews.com/news/200763/Israel-raided-Gaza-to-restore-its-hallucinatory-deterrence.