Alerts

Iran Works to Ignite an Intifada in Judea, Samaria, and Israel

Iran seeks to prepare the ground for a Hamas takeover
Share this
Palestine will be free. The final solution: Resistance until referendum
This “final solution” poster appeared on Supreme Leader Khamenei’s website in 2020. Featured in the picture are flags of Iran, Palestine, Hizbullah, and other militias, as well as pictures of Khomeini, Soleimani, and others.

Table of Contents

The PA fears that Iran is encouraging Hamas and the Islamic Jihad to reject a ceasefire and ignite an intifada in the West Bank.

The Iranians hope that an intifada will lead to the collapse of the PA Chairman’s rule and give Hamas a foothold to take over the West Bank.

Senior PA sources express concern that Iran is working with Hamas to ignite a large intifada in the West Bank and east Jerusalem, which will also spread to the Arab sector in Israel, destabilizing the PA Chairman’s rule and bringing it down.

According to them, Iran is exerting pressure on the Hamas and Islamic Jihad organizations to continue its rocket attacks on Israel while assuring that it will help with money and weapons to torpedo any agreement on a ceasefire.

The flareup in the security situation of the territories and Israel during the month of Ramadan encouraged Iran to believe the ground was ripe for an intifada against Israel. According to Hamas sources, Iran was party to the secret about Hamas’ premeditated plan to attack Jerusalem with rockets on “Jerusalem Day.”

In recent days, senior Iranian officials have held telephone conversations with Hamas and Islamic Jihad leaders, Ismail Haniyeh and Ziyad Nakhalah, expressing strong support for the rocket attack on Israel, encouraging them to continue firing rockets at Israel.

Among those who spoke with the leaders of Hamas and Islamic Jihad were General Esmail Ghanni, commander of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards’ Quds Force (Qassem Soleimani’s successor) and Ali Akbar Velayati, an aide to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.

Esmail Ghanni and Ziyad Nakhalah
IRGC-Quds Force Commander Gen. Esmail Ghanni and Islamic Jihad head Ziyad Nakhalah. (file photo)

On May 17, 2021, Ali Akbar Velayati told Hamas leader Haniyeh in a phone call: “You have proved that Israel is weaker than a spider’s web; Iran stands with the resistance and with the Palestinian people.” General Esmail Ghanni said on May 17: “The Palestinians need to prepare for the management of their country after the destruction of Israel. Iran will do everything possible to help liberate all Palestinian land.”

Ismail Haniyeh responded to Ghanni that “the campaign for Jerusalem is the campaign for all Muslims,” also alluding to Shi’ite Muslims, not just Sunni Muslims.

Iran’s Interests

Iran recognizes the weakness of PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas following the cancellation of the Palestinian elections and the split in the Fatah movement, as well as the instability of Israel’s political system, which is struggling to form a stable government and may go to its fifth election in two years.

Iran’s interests in bringing about a security crisis and an intifada include:

  1. Overthrow the PA chairman’s rule and prepare the ground for Hamas’ takeover of the West Bank.
  2. Create security chaos in Israel by pushing Israeli Arabs to launch a violent rebellion against state authorities.
  3. Retaliation against Israel for its ongoing bombing of Iranian targets in Syrian territory and the Israeli Mossad’s covert actions against the Iranian nuclear project.
  4. The collapse of the normalization agreements between Israel and the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Sudan, and Morocco. In the Iranians’ assessment, the conflagration between Israel and the Palestinians will help thwart any military alliance between Israel and the Gulf States against Iran.

In recent years, Iran has supported Hamas and Islamic Jihad with funds and weapons beyond the funds that came from Qatar to help Hamas’ military buildup. Also, Hamas’ annual budgets came from Iran.

Even during the crisis between Khaled Mashaal, former chairman of Hamas’ political bureau, and the Iranian leadership and Syria in 2012, Iran continued to transfer funds and weapons to Hamas’ military-terrorist wing. In addition, it provided Hamas with technological knowledge regarding rockets and unmanned aircraft and trained Hamas’ elite “Nokhba” and naval commando fighters within the ranks of the Revolutionary Guards Corps.

According to Israeli security sources, Iran recently transferred technological know-how to Hamas’ military-terrorist wing in order to improve the guidance of their rockets.

On May 7, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei praised the Palestinians’ “new intifada,” saying: “Israel is a terrorist base against the Palestinian people and other Islamic peoples. It is a blood-shedding entity, and it is our general responsibility to fight the oppression and terror of the Zionist entity.” Iranian President Hassan Rouhani also condemned the “Zionist attacks” on the Palestinian people and expressed support for the resistance organizations.

He attacked Egypt, Jordan, and the rest of the states in the region for their “silence on what is happening to the Palestinians.”

Yoni Ben Menachem

Yoni Ben Menachem, a veteran Arab affairs and diplomatic commentator for Israel Radio and Television, is a senior Middle East analyst for the Jerusalem Center. He served as Director General and Chief Editor of the Israel Broadcasting Authority.
Share this

Invest in JCFA

Subscribe to Daily Alert

The Daily Alert – Israel news digest appears every Sunday, Tuesday, and Thursday.

Related Items

Stay Informed, Always

Get the latest news, insights, and updates directly in your inbox—be the first to know!

Subscribe to Jerusalem Issue Briefs
The Daily Alert – Israel news digest appears every Sunday, Tuesday, and Thursday.

Notifications

The Jerusalem Center
Canada investigating Israeli-Canadian IDF soldiers?
JCFA senior researcher, Amb. Alan Baker slams the probe as a “political PR stunt with no legal basis.” “This isn’t justice—it’s a betrayal. Canada is siding with PLO propaganda over facts.”
11:29am
The Jerusalem Center
What makes a child believe killing a #Jew is justified?

In PA textbooks, Jews are called liars and frauds; their fate: elimination. This is #indoctrination—not #education. But change is happening. On East to West, @IMPACT_SE CEO Marcus Sheff exposes how #UNRWA-funded schools are fueling extremism—and what real reform looks like.  Listen now on Spotify: open.spotify.com/show/2JHqh973U  Watch on YouTube: youtu.be/8OkJTGNfVUc

11:43am
The Jerusalem Center
Highlights from the @Jerusalem_Post Annual Conference in NYC:

Dr. @Dan_Diker, President of the JCFA: “October 7 wasn’t just an attack on Israel — it was a blow to the U.S. on Israeli soil. It demands moral clarity and a united front between Israel and the U.S. to defeat jihadist terror.”

2:20pm
The Jerusalem Center
@XAVIAERD says it like it is

Well, @XAVIAERD says it like it is: If you’re part of “#Queers for #Palestine,” he’ll pay for your flight to #Gaza. Go see for yourself how they treat LGBTQ+ people over there. Don’t miss this bold take on the Israel-Hamas war and the woke right.

2:32pm
The Jerusalem Center
“This isn’t Israel vs. Hamas — it’s the frontline of the free world.”

“This isn’t Israel vs. Hamas — it’s the frontline of the free world.” On Our Middle East by @JNS_org, @Dan_Diker@KhaledAbuToameh (JCFA/@GatestoneInst) break it down: If Hamas isn’t crushed, Iran wins. The jihadis—from #Gaza to your campus—get the green light. Diker: “This war is for the West.” No fluff. No filters. Just raw insight from two insiders who actually know what’s going on.  Watch: youtu.be/4Aq_zcbb4Yo

2:15pm
The Jerusalem Center
5/5 Lt. Col. Kalo on East to West with @smartinezamir:

“This operation showcases Israel’s strategic intelligence superiority both regionally and globally. It demonstrates the moral commitment to recovered soldiers and also strengthens Israel’s position with allies.” youtube.com/watch?v=nIvNNi

2:07pm
The Jerusalem Center
4/5 The operation built on intelligence gathered during the 2019 #Baumel recovery

#Mossad agents operated under cover in #Syria for years, visiting a graveyard multiple times under fire to collect remains for DNA matching. The intelligence community’s evolution combines technology, big data analysis, and human intelligence capabilities.

2:02pm
The Jerusalem Center
3/5 This recovery coincided with the release of Israeli hostage Edan Alexander

This recovery coincided with the release of Israeli hostage Edan Alexander from #Hamas in #Gaza, significantly boosting national morale amid an ongoing conflict now stretching over 18 months. The dual successes demonstrate #Israel‘s unwavering commitment to bringing all soldiers home.

1:58pm
The Jerusalem Center
2/5 The operation used the power vacuum following #Assad’s fall from #Damascus

Lt. Col. Avi Kalo, former head of IDF Prisoners & Missing Persons Division, calls it “an outstanding event that brings hope and new spirit to the people of Israel.” The operation utilized the power vacuum following #Assad‘s fall from #Damascus, allowing #Israeli intelligence to deploy ground capabilities in #Syria.

1:56pm
The Jerusalem Center
1/5 Israeli forces recovered the remains of Sergeant First Class Zvi Feldman

In an unprecedented operation, Israeli forces have recovered the remains of Sergeant First Class Zvi #Feldman, missing since the 1982 Battle of Sultan Yacoub. The complex #Mossad mission was conducted deep within #Syrian territory, 43 years after his disappearance. This follows the successful 2019 recovery of Zachary #Baumel from the same battle.

1:54pm
The Jerusalem Center
A molotov attack on a bus = a “barbecue party”?

That’s what #Palestinian kids are being taught under @UNRWA  — from grade school to graduation. This isn’t education. It’s indoctrination. Marcus Sheff of @IMPACT_SE  breaks it down with @smartinezamir

12:51pm

Close