What is the ruling on donating to the Palestinians in Gaza nowadays? Is it an obligation? Is giving them the zakat on property more meritorious than giving it to others?

Jihad in the cause of Allah Almighty is a ritual that will continue until the Day of Resurrection. It is also a right guaranteed by man-made laws to repel aggressors; deter attackers; and preserve honor, life, and property.

Linguistically, jihad means exerting one’s utmost effort in word or deed.
In Islamic law, jihad is not restricted to physical combat alone, but extends to jihad through speech and wealth. The general texts on jihad apply to everything within the capacity and ability of a person who has reached the age of accountability, and are not limited to armed struggle alone. Some texts explicitly mention this, such as in the words of Allah Almighty, “And strive against them with it a great striving” (Quran, 25:52). As for jihad through wealth, Allah Almighty says, “O you who believe! Shall I guide you to a trade that will save you from a painful punishment? You believe in Allah and His Messenger and strive in the cause of Allah with your wealth and your lives — that is best for you, if you only knew” (Quran, 61:10–11).

Accordingly, whoever is unable to personally defend the lands, honor, and lives of Muslims against aggression is obliged by Islamic law to contribute whatever is possible from their wealth, whether in kind or in cash, to repel the aggression and support the oppressed.

Allah Almighty identifies the recipients of zakat, “Zakat expenditures are only for the poor and for the needy and for those unemployed to collect [zakat] and for bringing hearts together [for Islam] and for freeing captives [or slaves] and for those in debt and for the cause of Allah and for the [stranded] traveler—an obligation [imposed] by Allah, and Allah is Knowing and Wise” (Quran, 9:60). Therefore, paying Zakat to the people of Gaza is valid under the category of “in the cause of Allah,” as repelling the enemy in their case is incumbent as a form of defensive jihad. Everything that helps them survive, fight the enemy, and repel aggression — whether money, food, or medicine — is part of the tools of jihad which are not limited to weapons alone, but include all such necessities.

Jurists have established that giving zakat to a mujahid (a person who engages in jihad) in the cause of Allah is permissible, even if they are wealthy. When listing the categories of zakat recipients, Imam al-Khiraqi, the Hanbali scholar, stated, “A share is allocated to those fighting in the cause of Allah … they are given what they need to buy mounts, weapons, and whatever strengthens them against the enemy, even if they are rich.”
Imam Ibn Qudama commented in Al-Mughni (6:333),
“This is also the opinion of Malik, al-Shafiʿi, Ishaq, Abu Thawr, Abu ʿUbayd, and Ibn al-Mundhir.”
This is premised on the words of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) as recorded by Imam Malik in Al-Muwatta`, “Charity is not lawful for a rich person except for five [categories],”
among them he mentioned, “the one fighting in the cause of Allah.” As for their poor and needy — and they are many — they may receive from this category as well as from the categories of the poor and needy, as they are both impoverished and needy, and engaged in jihad.

Therefore, the people of the occupied land today have overall priority in receiving zakat funds, due to the severity of their circumstances and their urgent need for assistance — especially in the Gaza Strip, whose dire situation is known to all.

And Allah the Almighty knows best.