Thousands rally in Gaza to support Islamic Jihad group

The Palestinian Islamic Jihad movement staged a public show of force in the Gaza Strip on Friday to mark the 29^th anniversary of its formation, with its leader praising Iran and criticising Arab states.

Thousands of supporters, including fighters from the party's military wing, Al-Quds Brigades, took part in the event in the Palestinian enclave.

Islamic Jihad leader Ramadan Shalah spoke via a video link from Beirut, using his speech to accuse some Arab countries of abandoning the Palestinian cause.

"If the Arabs turn their backs on Palestine and embrace Israel, they can no longer condemn the resistance for taking support from Iran," Shalah said, without naming any countries.

"(Iran) is the only country which commits to the unending support of the Palestinian cause."

The Jihad leader also slammed Arab countries that are taking steps to normalise relations with Israel, accusing them of wanting Israel’s protection.

“Your populations are the ones that will protect you, and your populations hate Israel and refuse to recognise it,” Shalah said.

Shalah called on Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas to abandon the Oslo peace accords signed with Israel in the early 1990s, which were meant to lead to an independent Palestinian state.

He also called for the reorganisation of the Palestine Liberation Organisation to serve as the body to unite the various Palestinian factions, saying that Palestinians are currently going through a period of national liberation and should be supported through resistance.

Hamas, another Islamist movement, runs Gaza but has a long-term alliance with Islamic Jihad. Unlike Jihad, Hamas no longer receives the same level support from Iran, after the two sides diverged over the Syrian conflict.

Hamas refused to support the regime of Iran's ally Bashar al-Assad, and withdrew from Damascus early on during the Syrian rebellion.

Hamas has been in conflict with Abbas's Fatah movement, which runs the occupied West Bank, since 2007, with multiple attempts at reconciliation faltering.

Shalah on Friday called for all Palestinian factions to come together for a "national dialogue".