Jihad is an Arabic word that means "struggle" or "striving". It can refer to a personal struggle to live a moral and virtuous life, or it can refer to a broader struggle to defend Islam and the Muslim community. In recent news, a former Hamas leader called for a "Day of Jihad" by Muslim communities around the world on Friday, October 13, 2023. He urged Muslims to take to the streets and deliver a message of anger in support of Palestinians, and called on Muslims in neighboring countries like Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, and Egypt to join the fight against Israel. There is concern that the conflict between Israel and Hamas could spread to cities worldwide as a result of this call to action. While the term "jihad" has been used in a variety of contexts and can have different meanings, in this specific case it refers to a call to action by a former Hamas leader to Muslims around the world to support the Palestinian cause.