Overview

Ziad al-Nakhalah is the U.S.-designated secretary-general of Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ), a Palestinian terrorist group largely based in the Gaza Strip. Nakhalah assumed the leadership of PIJ in September 2018 after serving as deputy secretary-general for more than two decades.“Iran-backed Palestinian Islamic Jihad names new leader,” Associated Press, September 28, 2018, https://apnews.com/d14e7e6a4a68481980b6db8052853f03; “Terrorist Designation of Ziyad al-Nakhalah,” U.S. Department of State, January 23, 2014, https://www.state.gov/j/ct/rls/other/des/266559.htm. He was reelected for a second four-year term in March 2023.“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/.

The U.S. Department of State has accused Nakhalah of cultivating “strong relations with the Government of Iran.”“Terrorist Designation of Ziyad al-Nakhalah,” U.S. Department of State, January 23, 2014, https://www.state.gov/j/ct/rls/other/des/266559.htm. After Nakhalah assumed the PIJ leadership in September 2018, the Saudi newspaper Asharq Al-Awsat wrote that Iran feared that newly appointed deputy secretary-general Mohammad al-Hindi was more sympathetic to the Muslim Brotherhood and Hamas and might try to sway PIJ away from Iran’s influence. Iran allegedly preferred to have pro-Iran Nakhalah in the role of secretary-general with Hindi as his deputy in order to ensure the group’s continued allegiance. PIJ denied the reports.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.

Nakhalah has maintained ties between PIJ and Iran since his election. In December 2018, Nakhalah traveled to Tehran, where he met with Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif and praised Iran for its support of the Palestinian cause.“Iran’s Top Diplomat Meets PIJ Chief,” Iran Front Page, December 29, 2018, https://ifpnews.com/exclusive/irans-top-diplomat-meets-pij-chief/; Adam Kredo, “Iran Hosts Palestinian Terror Group, Sparking Fears of New Attacks,” Washington Free Beacon, January 2, 2019, https://freebeacon.com/national-security/iran-hosts-palestinian-terror-group-sparking-fears-of-new-attacks/. In 2014, the State Department accused Nakhalah of seeking to expand PIJ’s ties with Hamas.“Terrorist Designation of Ziyad al-Nakhalah,” U.S. Department of State, January 23, 2014, https://www.state.gov/j/ct/rls/other/des/266559.htm. In February 2019, Nakhalah reportedly met with Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh to coordinate a response to U.S. President Donald Trump’s yet-to-be-revealed Middle East peace plan.Adnan Abu Amer, “What was Hamas’ Haniyeh doing in Egypt for 25 days?” Al-Monitor, March 20, 2019, https://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2019/03/hamas-ismail-haniyeh-25-days-visit-egypt-release-detainees.html; “Press release issued by Hamas and Islamic Jihad on Egypt visit,” Hamas, February 5, 2019, http://hamas.ps/en/post/1895/press-release-issued-by-hamas-and-islamic-jihad-on-egypt-visit.

Nakhalah remains supportive of PIJ’s violent tactics. He personally claimed credit for PIJ missile attacks on Israel between 2008 and 2011.“Terrorist Designation of Ziyad al-Nakhalah,” U.S. Department of State, January 23, 2014, https://www.state.gov/j/ct/rls/other/des/266559.htm. In a December 2018 interview with Iranian TV channel al-Alam, Nakhalah praised the “axis of resistance” with Iran and Iran-backed Hezbollah. He warned of “strategic coordination” between PIJ and Hamas and a “joint operations room of the resistance factions.” He further warned Israel that PIJ’s fighters “will emerge from beneath the ground and from above the ground” to defeat Israel and cause it to “disappear.”Yoni Ben Menachem, “Islamic Jihad Leader: We Will Attack Israel from the North and South,” Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs, January 1, 2019, http://jcpa.org/islamic-jihad-leader-we-will-attack-israel-from-the-north-and-south/.

Israel has twice arrested Nakhalah for participation in violent activities. Israeli authorities first jailed him in 1971 for participation with the Arab Liberation Front. He was released in 1985 as part of a prisoner exchange deal orchestrated by the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine.Shlomi Eldar, “Islamic Jihad, the new lord of Gaza?” Al-Monitor, February 5, 2019, https://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2019/02/israel-egypt-gaza-strip-palestinians-hamas-islamic-jihad.html; Mohamed Majid and Ali Abo Rezeg, “Islamic Jihad's Ziad Nakhala: A lifetime of resistance,” Anadolu Agency, September 28, 2019, https://www.aa.com.tr/en/middle-east/islamic-jihads-ziad-nakhala-a-lifetime-of-resistance/1267697. Israeli authorities arrested Nakhalah again in 1988 for his participation in the first Palestinian intifada (uprising) against Israel. Israel deported Nakhalah to Lebanon, where he became PIJ’s representative in Beirut.“Iran-backed Palestinian Islamic Jihad names new leader,” Associated Press, September 28, 2018, https://apnews.com/d14e7e6a4a68481980b6db8052853f03; Mohamed Majid and Ali Abo Rezeg, “Islamic Jihad's Ziad Nakhala: A lifetime of resistance,” Anadolu Agency, September 28, 2019, https://www.aa.com.tr/en/middle-east/islamic-jihads-ziad-nakhala-a-lifetime-of-resistance/1267697. After the assassination of PIJ Secretary-General Fathi Shaqaqi in 1995, Ramadan Shallah became PIJ’s new secretary-general. Shallah subsequently appointed Nakhalah as his deputy secretary-general.Mohamed Majid and Ali Abo Rezeg, “Islamic Jihad's Ziad Nakhala: A lifetime of resistance,” Anadolu Agency, September 28, 2019, https://www.aa.com.tr/en/middle-east/islamic-jihads-ziad-nakhala-a-lifetime-of-resistance/1267697.

In April 2018, Shallah reportedly fell into a coma following heart surgery in Lebanon.“Palestine’s Islamic Jihad denies leader was in coma in Lebanon,” Middle East Monitor, April 10, 2018, https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20180410-palestines-islamic-jihad-denies-leader-was-in-coma-in-lebanon/. PIJ denied reports of Shallah’s illness but scheduled internal elections for a new secretary-general in September 2018. Nakhalah was elected PIJ’s new secretary-general on September 27, 2018.“Iran-backed Palestinian Islamic Jihad names new leader,” Associated Press, September 28, 2018, https://apnews.com/d14e7e6a4a68481980b6db8052853f03; “Palestine’s Islamic Jihad denies leader was in coma in Lebanon,” Middle East Monitor, April 10, 2018, https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20180410-palestines-islamic-jihad-denies-leader-was-in-coma-in-lebanon/; “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/; 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. On March 3, 2023, PIJ announced Nakhalah had won reelection for a second four-year term as secretary-general. PIJ claimed a 95 percent voter turnout rate among eligible voters in Gaza and abroad.“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/.

On October 7, 2023, one day after the 50th anniversary of the Yom Kippur War and as Israel is marking the Jewish holidays of Simchat Torah and Shabbat, Hamas launches a multi-pronged attack on Israel, resulting in hundreds of casualties and hostages taken into Gaza. At least 800 Israelis are killed and more than 1,000 wounded in the first three days of the conflict while Hamas takes at least 100 hostages in Gaza. On October 8, Nakhalah announces PIJ is also holding 30 Israeli hostages. During an October 9 phone call between Nakhalah and Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, Raisi praises the “brilliant and impressive victories” of the “Palestinian resistance.”Josef Federman and Issam Adwan, “Hamas surprise attack out of Gaza stuns Israel and leaves hundreds dead in fighting, retaliation,” Associated Press, October 7, 2023, https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-gaza-hamas-rockets-airstrikes-tel-aviv-11fb98655c256d54ecb5329284fc37d2; Gianluca Pacchiani, “Iran president praises ‘innovative operation’ in call with Islamic Jihad chief,” Times of Israel, October 9, 2023, https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/iran-president-praises-innovative-operation-in-call-with-islamic-jihad-chief/; Gianluca Pacchiani, “Islamic Jihad leader claims terror group is holding over 30 Israeli hostages,” Times of Israel, October 8, 2023, https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/islamic-jihad-leader-claims-terror-group-is-holding-over-30-israeli-hostages/; Gianluca Pacchiani, “Iran president praises ‘innovative operation’ in call with Islamic Jihad chief,” Times of Israel, October 9, 2023, https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/iran-president-praises-innovative-operation-in-call-with-islamic-jihad-chief/.

Shortly after, on October 25, 2023, Nakhalah met with Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah and deputy Hamas leader Saleh al-Arouri at an undisclosed location. According to a statement released by Hezbollah, the three reportedly discussed what was required from the alliance to “achieve a real victory for the resistance” in Gaza.“Hezbollah, Hamas and Islamic Jihad leaders discuss how to achieve ‘victory,’” Reuters, October 25, 2023, https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/hezbollah-chief-meets-top-palestinian-leaders-2023-10-25/; David Averre, “Head of Hezbollah meets with leaders of Hamas and Islamic Jihad to discuss how to ‘achieve victory for the resistance against Israel’ in Gaza,” Daily Mail (London), October 25, 2023, https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-12669947/hezbollah-meet-hamas-islamic-jihad-israel-war-gaza-victory.html. The “resistance” refers to an alliance of Iran-supporting groups—including Hamas, Hezbollah, the Houthis, the PIJ, and other Shiite armed groups across Syria and Iraq—that have described themselves as the “Axis of Resistance” to U.S. and Israeli influence in the Middle East.“What is Iran's ‘Axis of Resistance?,’” Reuters, April 13, 2024, https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/what-is-irans-axis-resistance-which-groups-are-involved-2024-01-29/.

On November 22, 2023, Israel and Hamas agreed to a temporary four-day ceasefire, during which Hamas would release at least 50 women and children held hostage in Gaza, while Israel would also release 150 Palestinian women and minors imprisoned in Israel. The Qatar-negotiated ceasefire went into effect on November 24 although both Israel and Hamas maintained the ceasefire would not halt their respective larger missions.“Israel-Hamas war: Four-day truce agreed, 50 hostages to go free,” Reuters, November 22, 2023, https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/israeli-government-debates-deal-release-gaza-hostages-truce-2023-11-21/. The day the ceasefire took effect, Nakhalah delivered a televised address claiming that Israel failed to achieve its stated goals and that “had it not been for the losses on the battlefield, the Zionist regime would not have agreed to the ceasefire agreement and the exchange of prisoners.” Nakhalah further stated that the resistance front would continue fighting to “prevent the enemy from reaching its objectives.”“Ziyad al-Nakhalah: Israel failed to achieve goals as four-day truce in Gaza takes effect,” Nour News, November 24, 2023, https://nournews.ir/en/news/155887/Ziyad-al-Nakhalah-Israel-failed-to-achieve-goals-as-four-day-truce-in-Gaza-takes-effect.

Nakhalah maintained close communication with Hamas, and on February 2, 2024, Nakhalah met with Haniyeh at an undisclosed location to discuss a ceasefire proposal. The conditions outlined in the proposal include the complete end to the alleged Israeli aggression, the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza, continued delivery of humanitarian aid, the return of displaced people, and reaching a comprehensive exchange deal. “Haniyeh, Al-Nakhleh: ‘Resistance factions will advocate for protection of Palestine,’” Middle East Monitor,  February 3, 2024, https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20240203-haniyeh-al-nakhleh-resistance-factions-will-advocate-for-protection-of-palestine/. Nakhalah shortly after met with Hezbollah’s Nasrallah on February 12 at an undisclosed location where they discussed current, as well as expected, on the ground developments in Gaza.“Hezbollah’s Nasrallah met with Islamic Jihad’s Nakhaleh, terror group says,” Times of Israel, February 12, 2024, https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/hezbollahs-nasrallah-met-with-islamic-jihads-nakhaleh-terror-group-says/.

On March 28, Nakhalah met with Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in Tehran. During the meeting, Khamenei lauded the actions of the Axis of Resistance and criticized the leaders of other Muslim-majority countries for what he called their “passivity and lack of action.”“Head of Palestinian Islamic Jihad meets Iran’s supreme leader,” Middle East Eye, March 28, 2024, https://www.middleeasteye.net/live-blog/live-blog-update/head-palestinian-islamic-jihad-meets-irans-supreme-leader. Nakhalah met with Haniyeh again on March 29 in Tehran. A Hamas statement afterward claimed that the two reiterated the conditions set out in the February 2024 proposal and further stressed intensifying the resistance and its actions in all forms.“Iran-backed Palestinian leader vows victory over Israel in the war in Gaza,” Associated Press, March 30, 2024, https://apnews.com/article/iran-palestinians-leader-israel-islamic-jihad-nakhalah-d507575f170f47e87432a48d4606ec03.

On April 13, 2024, Nakhalah spoke with the Iranian website khamenei.ir, where he extolled the strength of the Axis of Resistance. He further claimed the United States is seeking to find a way to withdraw Israeli forces from the Gaza Strip, noting that the resistance groups have “united” toward claiming a final victory.“US seeking to withdraw Israeli forces from Gaza after failing to achieve goals: Islamic Jihad,” Press TV, April 13, 2024, https://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2024/04/13/723620/Palestine-Israel-Gaza-war-Islamic-Jihad-Ziyad-al-Nakhaleh-US-negotiation-withdraw-Israeli-troops. That same day, the Israeli army released an eight-minute-long interrogation video of PIJ political bureau spokesman Tariq Salami Otha Abu Shlouf, who was arrested at Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza in late March with 358 other Hamas and PIJ officials. During the interrogation, Shlouf claimed that PIJ falsifies narratives on Arabic and international media regarding what happens on the ground in Gaza. He further claimed the group used all of Gaza’s hospitals and ambulances during the entirety of the war. Accordingly, he further noted that Nakhalah maintained daily contact with PIJ’s communications department to ensure that certain stories were retracted or pushed out by journalists to maintain a specific narrative of the Hamas-Israel war.Ruth Marks Eglash, “Palestinian Islamic Jihad spokesman reveals group’s Gaza propaganda playbook,” Fox News, April 13, 2024, https://www.foxnews.com/world/palestinian-islamic-jihad-spokesman-reveals-groups-gaza-propaganda-playbook.