This article examines the reactions of Jihadis and former Jihadis in Syria to the ongoing war on Gaza. This issue is significant because it highlights how groups that initially had a unified stance on the eve of the Syrian conflict in 2011—marked by their opposition to Muslim regimes and a Salafi outlook – later fractured during the Syrian conflict, leading to divergent positions on the war on Gaza. Global Jihadis, including al-Qaeda and Islamic State (IS), adopted very different stances. Al-Qaeda has attempted to soften its previous theological criticisms of Hamas with a cautious praise for the organization and timid attempts at promoting unity. In contrast, IS has remained vehemently opposed to Hamas, arguing that the group fights for non-religious reasons, allies with ‘enemies of Islam’, and does not seek to implement Islamic law. Perhaps the most intriguing perspective comes from former Jihadis, who view Hamas as a political and military model, although they are cautious about the Palestinian group’s praise for Iran and renewed links to the Syrian regime. This research argues that political considerations – such as the need to appeal to specific audiences and the dynamics of cross-factional competition – take precedence over theological concerns. Additionally, it finds that these divergent positions have not led to any violent actions from Syria.
