In the days after the killing of Qassem Soleimani the Gaza Strip has been almost completely quiet. The London-based newspaper al-Sharq al-Awsat reported that senior Hamas figures made it clear to Egypt that they had no interest in an escalation in the Gaza Strip in the wake of the killing (al-Sharq al-Awsat, January 5, 2020).
This past week no return march was held. Several dozen Palestinians gathered at various locations along the border and attempted to reach the security fence. No unusual events were reported.
Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ), which receive military and financial support from Iran, issued mourning notices for the death of Qassem Soleimani. The notices stressed the aid and support Soleimani gave the “resistance.” Contrary to the reactions of Iran and Hezbollah, senior Hamas and PIJ figures accused Israel of collaborating with the United States in the killing.
