The Muslim Brotherhood and the Strategic Reframing of the Palestinian Cause in the Aftermath of October 7.

Since their ouster from power in Egypt and the exclusion of the Muslim Brotherhood (MB) from the public and political arenas in 2013, the movement has suffered from a deep leadership crisis, exacerbated by internal divisions among three competing leaderships: the London Front, the Istanbul Front, and the Current of Change. The dramatic events of October 7, 2023, and the ensuing conflict between Israel and Hamas are perceived by the MB as a strategic opportunity to rehabilitate its image and reestablish its standing within the broader Islamist sphere. However, the politicization of the Palestinian issue has failed to mend the internal rifts, particularly given the stark differences in discourse regarding the appropriate stance toward Arab regimes allied with Israel. This article analyzes the discourse of the movement’s three central leaderships concerning their positions on Israel and the Arab regimes, with particular emphasis on the Egyptian regime. It also examines the response of Egypt’s Salafi movement to the Muslim Brotherhood’s propaganda against the Egyptian state, in the context of the Brotherhood’s efforts to craft a new narrative that blends civil resistance with emotional mobilization around the Palestinian cause. Through this analysis, the article offers an up-to-date perspective on the ideological, geopolitical, and intra-organizational factors shaping the Muslim Brotherhood’s perceptions and actions in the post–October 7 era.