The PIJ began in the Gaza Strip during the 1970s. It is an umbrella organization of numerous loosely affiliated groups and is not one specific organization. The aim of the PIJ is to establish an Islamic Palestinian state and destroy Israel via holy war. The PIJ also considers the United States an enemy for its support of the State of Israel and is against moderate Arab governments for their perceived acceptance of western culture.

The PIJ is financed by Iran and Syria. It operates in Israel (including the West Bank and Gaza), Jordan, Lebanon, Syria and throughout the rest of the Middle East. The largest PIJ contingent is located in Syria.

The word jihad is found in the names of many Islamic terrorist organizations. Examples of this are the Hizbollah (also known as Islamic Jihad and Islamic Jihad for the Liberation of Palestine) and Al-Jihad (also known as Egyptian Islamic Jihad, Jihad Group, Islamic Jihad).