RAFAH, Gaza Strip — Many questions are circulating in Gaza about Al-Sabireen Movement for Supporting Palestine - HESN (Movement of Those Who Endure with Patience), whose activities and slogans have been increasing in the Gaza Strip. The movement is mainly concentrated in northern and central Gaza and in al-Shujaiyya neighborhood. Al-Sabireen’s activities are mainly security-oriented due to constant concerns about Israel targeting the movement’s members composed of youth who have split from the Islamic Jihad movement.

Meanwhile, a number of researchers and Salafi clerics have been accusing the movement of having Shiite affiliations and of being funded by Iran.

Al-Sabireen Movement, which was established on May 25, 2014, came under the spotlight on Feb. 19 when Gazans woke up to the news of a bombing by an explosive device in the vicinity of the house of the secretary-general of Harakat Al-Sabireen, Hisham Salem, who survived the explosion.

Although no one claimed responsibility for the bombing, the movement accused Israel in a statement issued on that same day.