Palestinians in Gaza not only show support for Islamic State and for terror attacks in France and elsewhere; they also act on ISIS’s behalf.

Palestinians in the Gaza Strip held a rally on Monday in support of Islamic State (IS or ISIS) as well as for the recent Islamic terror attacks in France.

“Today, we are telling France and world countries that while Islam orders us to respect all religions, it also orders us to punish and kill those who assault and offend Islam’s Prophet Mohammed,” Abu Abdallah al-Makdissi, one of the protestors, told Reuters.

Dozens of Hamas police were deployed at the rally and outside the gates of the French cultural center, where the demonstrators gathered after burning French flags.

The center has been targeted by ISIS terror attacks in the past. For instance, the Islamic terror organization took responsibility for the bombing of the center in Gaza City on December 12.

The demonstrators on Monday reportedly carried posters of the terrorists who carried out the Charlie Hebdo massacre and the attack at the Hyper Cacher supermarket in Paris that left four Jews dead.

Chanting slogans reminiscent of ISIS threats, the demonstrators shouted, “you have to await more heroes of Islam, you worshipers of the Cross.”

Reuters reports that many of demonstrators were wearing uniforms similar to the all-black garb worn by ISIS terrorists, and they identified themselves as supporters of various jihadist (Islamic armed struggle) factions.

Towards the end of the rally, scuffles broke out between demonstrators and police, who fired into the air to disperse the protest, Reuters reports.

Broad Support for ISIS in Gaza

ISIS receives comparatively broad support among Palestinian Arabs. A recent survey found that among Arabs in the Middle East, Palestinians show the most support for ISIS. Nearly a quarter (24 percent) of Palestinians look favorably upon ISIS. Even those Palestinians with negative views of ISIS are less negative than those in other Arab groups.

Palestinians in Gaza have also joined ISIS in Syria, some of whom died fighting there.

Another recent report shows that hundreds of Palestinian terrorists are abandoning the Hamas terror organization, which they deem too moderate, for ISIS cells operating against Israel.

By: Aryeh Savir

Staff Writer, United with Israel