Islamic Jihad Rally draws 100,000 in Gaza

A crowd estimated at over 100,000 people demonstrated over the weekend in Gaza City to mark the 23rd anniversary of the Islamic Jihad movement. Chanting “Death to America” and “Death to Israel,” the event also commemorated the death of its founder Fathi Shiqaqi, who was assassinated, allegedly by an Israeli hit squad, in Malta in 2005. Backed by Iran, the movement is a small but vociferous in its opposition to negotiating with Israel. While often at odds with the larger Hamas movement, senior Hamas officials attended the event.