The Palestinian factions’ reactions came in rapid succession following the Jan. 3 assassination of Qasem Soleimani, the commander of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps' Quds Force. Hamas immediately denounced the killing of Soleimani, who it praised for his “prominent role in supporting the Palestinian resistance in various fields.”
Palestinian Islamic Jihad mourned Soleimani and stated that it will continue to face US and Israeli aggression and that the resistance axis will move ahead on the path toward freeing Palestine. The Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) took the assassination as a qualitative shift in US aggression against the armed factions that requires a coordinated and comprehensive response targeting the US and Zionist presence and interests in the region.
While the majority of the factions condemned Soleimani’s assassination, the Fatah movement, led by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, which is not on good terms with Iran, remained silent.
It is only natural for the Palestinian factions to express condolences for Soleimani’s assassination and solidarity with Iran. There were close ties between Palestinians and Soleimani, who served as liaison officer with the Iranian leadership and communicated with their political and military leadership around the clock. Yet will the reactions be limited to statements or will they turn into military moves against Israel?
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