With time running out for Hamas to decide on the ceasefire drill and the US appearing to back away from a promise that a hostage deal would be reached by Monday, March 4, the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) - called for this year's Ramadan to be a "month of terror" and seek to escalate the attacks in the West Bank and Gaza.
PIJ Al-Quds Brigades spokesman Abu Hamza said that he wanted the Arab countries in the region and pro-Iranian groups to continue to "unify" various arenas and fronts against Israel. They have also called on Arab nations to not "lag in the battle led by the heroes of the resistance in the Gaza Strip, on behalf of the Islamic nation, especially those who possess armies, planes, and cannons."
According to the Jerusalem Post, the statement was the latest indication that terrorist groups plan to escalate the war between Israel and Hamas over the solemn Muslim season of Ramadan.
Beirut-based pro-Iranian news outlet al-Mayadeen published Hamza's remarks despite hopes for a hostage-prisoner exchange and a truce deal between Israel and Hamas, which the US was pushing for. Hamas has also continued to make it difficult by refusing to hand over a list of names of the living hostages.
The PIJ, like Hamas and Hezbollah, is an Iran proxy, with armed men within Gaza and leaders in Damascus, where they occasionally meet with Iranian officials and agents, as well as Hamas and Hezbollah leaders.
Uniting the Fronts
In its pre-Ramadan statement, the PIJ adopted the Iranian term "unity of the battlefields," which meant that pro-Iranian groups - like the PIJ, Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthis - should join together in a united front against Israel.
There are at least seven different "fronts" that, according to Iran, needed to be united by repeating the intensity of the October 7 Hamas attack. Israel also mentioned and was aware of such "fronts."
While the PIJ was one of the smallest Iranian proxies, it was still capable of carrying out attacks in Gaza, just like what they did in the truce last November, as well as holding several hostages, making them a key player in negotiation attempts.
Calling on the Arab World
Hamza did not specify which nations were he addressing the message to, but he reportedly shamed states neighboring Israel for their purported inaction.
"Isn't it time for you to raise your guns like the free people in Yemen, Lebanon, and Iraq?" he retorted. "Isn't it time for you to take off the garment of slavery and humiliation to America, the Great Satan, and follow the example of the honorable?"
PIJ also praised the Palestinian terrorists continuing to fight in Gaza. In recent days, the group's members have carried out attacks in the Zeitoun neighborhood near Gaza City, Hamza added.
The IDF has been operating in that area over the last two weeks, seeking to clear it of terrorists.
Hamza further called for attacks on "the occupation's military checkpoints" and to "cut off the road to the settlers." Hamza stressed that the first day of Ramadan should become an international day to support Gaza and "mobilize" in "all the arenas."
"We are certain that the single body of the nation will do the impossible and will make the month of Ramadan historic days to wash away shame and threaten the existence of the Israeli enemy entity and global arrogance," he added.
Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh earlier made the call to unite the Iranian "Axis of Resistance" and to step up attacks against Israel during Ramadan, JNS reported.
