New fundamentalist movements on the rise in Gaza

New fundamentalist movements on the rise in Gaza

One of the most notable political processes currently taking place in Hamas-ruled Gaza is the growing prominence of "Salafi jihad" organizations.

These are groupings committed to the rigorous, apocalyptic version of Sunni Islamism associated with the al-Qaida network.

The attempt in August by the Hamas authorities to suppress the Jund Ansar Allah group in southern Gaza momentarily cast the spotlight on the growth of the Salafis. They have not gone away.

Following Hamas's mini-crackdown, the Salafi groupings have continued to grow. No clear line exists between them and the more "moderate" Islamists of Hamas. Rather, Salafi sentiments and loyalties proliferate among rank and file Hamas militants, in particularly in the movement's armed wing - the Kassam Brigades.

A complex myriad of Salafi groups exists in Gaza. A key question is whether they will succeed in unifying, in order to pose a more serious challenge to the Hamas authorities.

Among the most significant are the Jund Ansar Allah, the Jaish al-Islam (Army of Islam), and the Jaish al-Umma (Army of the Nation.) The Jaish al-Islam is built around the powerful Doghmush clan of Gaza. The Jaish al-Umma, meanwhile, is headed by Sheikh Abu Hafez al-Maqdisi, a well known Salafi cleric from southern Gaza. But it is the Jund Ansar Allah which is considered by many analysts to have the best chance of acting as a unifying force for the plethora of small sects which make up the Salafi subculture in Gaza.

Hamas's crackdown on Jund Ansar Allah came after the group attempted in August to proclaim an Islamic emirate in the Gaza Strip. The Salafi movement's leader, Abdul Latif Abu Moussa (Abu al-Nur al-Maqdesi) was killed in the August fighting. His movement, however, has survived and is now attempting to bring other, smaller groups under its banner.

Among the most noteworthy of these groupings is the Suyuf al Haq al-Islamiyyah.Also of note is the Fatah al-Islam group, consisting of 120 survivors of the Lebanese group of the same name, which was bloodily suppressed by the Lebanese Armed Forces in the Nahr al-Bared refugee camp.

Behind this confusing swirl of names is a common process whereby young former gunmen of Hamas, Islamic Jihad and the Hizb al-Tahrir party are increasingly being attracted to the Salafi groups. The reason is quite simple. A considerable number of young Gaza Palestinians want to engage in "armed struggle" and military action against Israel.

Hamas has been of necessity in a situation of de facto cease-fire since Operation Cast Lead. A situation of de jure cease-fire was in place in the months preceding the operation. So the formerly peripheral Salafi groupings are acting as a channel for grass-roots militancy.

The Salafis benefit from a lack of real competition. The secular nationalist Palestinian groupings are largely an irrelevance. The popular Hizb al-Tahrir Party does not itself engage in armed militancy - rather, its role tends to be as a way station and "university" for young activists on the way to violent activity. And Palestinian Islamic Jihad, which might once have been expected to have picked up disaffected former Hamas activists, is generally regarded as starved of cash and close to being defunct.

Jund Ansar Allah and the groups around it have proven in the last year that their commitment to Islamist militancy is more than purely verbal. The largest attempt at an attack on Israel took place on June 8, 2009. This (barely) foiled attack is largely remembered with a certain amusement in Israel, because of the involvement of seven jihadis-on-horseback in it. However, the attack also involved around 40 IEDs (improvised explosive devices) and would have carried a heavy death toll if it had succeeded.

In addition to the rocket and cross-border attacks, Jund Ansar Allah and its associates are also considered responsible for a large number of "honor killings" in Gaza, and for attacks on the small Christian population, on Internet parlors and other examples of non-Islamic life in the Strip.

The organization is now thought to command around 700 fighters, with a much larger network of supporters. The perceived inactivity of Hamas is also aiding the growth of the Salafi tendency within the ruling movement. The "Jaljalat" - as the Salafi groups within Hamas are known - came into being during the period of the cease-fire.

Powerful figures in Hamas are associated with these elements. Sheikh Nizar Rayan, who was killed during Operation Cast Lead, was a key figure behind them. Ahmed al Ja'abari, commander of the Kassam Brigades, is also a known Salafi.

The Jaljalat groupings appear to be maintaining a curious half-in, half-out relationship with Hamas at the present time. Adherents have begun to organize militarily outside of the framework of Hamas, while maintaining their membership in the movement. The Hamas leadership is watching events carefully. They are reluctant to move against the Jaljalat, for fear that this could precipitate a split in Hamas. At the same time, localized suppression is undertaken, when Jaljalat militants are seen to have undertaken actions which could challenge Hamas's prestige as the sole ruling authority.

Salafi activity both within Hamas and outside it is aided, according to diplomatic sources, by large-scale support and financing from outside of Gaza. The growth of this trend is a product of the meeting of grass roots Islamic militancy, plentiful outside support and a clear, religious-oriented ideological outlook.

The Salafis are now firmly established on the Palestinian political map - a little way from the main spotlight of daily events. There are those who see them as the wave of the future. source

 

so what did you expect? isreal does not even let free flow of water at that place
were you looking forward for a free hugs for isreal movement ?

 

I feel bad for the Palestinian people. I guess I should have expected you to immediately blame Israel.

I think this is bad for the Palestinian people, not really sure it is bad for Israel. Anyway, it is just sad state of affairs and hopefully a real Palestinian leader will emerge.

 

Yup. The Gazans are taking the highway to the 6th century, this process started when the Hamas butchered 600 moderate Fatah members in its rise to power, and has gone worse ever since.

Here is more on how such things come to be:

Gaza School Teacher in front of his pupils: "The jews were the cause of trouble of Germany"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U9HRVcVmLmc

browntwn I recommend all of the 4 parts of the movie. Its a good very enlightening one. Pretty much explain what we hear in this forum from Polite teen, new, thraXed, Imad... etc'... I almost felt I am on DP P&R Forum
Part 1/4
Part 2/4
Part 3/4
Part 4/4

 

Israel is found of crimes against humanity, not a word of condemnation from browntwn.

A new fundamentalist group in Gaza? Makes a whole topic about it.

We know where you stand pathetic.

 

Let me know when there is a war crimes trial, not some pathetic report which at every turn the UN touches becomes more and more biased. There are thousands of groups who declare people war criminals all the time. They are meaningless. You know it and I know it. Keep trying to spin gold out of hay.

Unlike you I have no need to defend war crimes by any party. May anyone who TARGETS civilians rot in hell - be they Israelis or Palestinians.

 

real Palestinian leader: imported from usa, packaged in isreal and approved by zionists

yes, this is indeed sad state of affairs, I hope isrealis will also get a real leader and will stop electing terrorists and criminals like ariel sharon

 

Excellent analysis on problems facing the Palestinians. I am sure with your 'focus' the problems of the Palestinians will all be solved soon.

 

Thanks for the article, Browntwn:

and to think that from the groups of the terrorists they could become even more vicious.

 

Please explain how the report is patheitc and biased, quote the part from the report you disagree with and why it is wrong.

Thanks.

 

anything which does not suits isreali interests can be simply brushed underneath the carpet of antisemitism
so no wonder that the report is 'biased and pathetic'

 

It's littered with terrorists.

What is sad is that the muslims in this forum won't even condemn it.

 

Many of the most virulent Muslims on this forum clearly support terrorists and enjoy attacks on America, Europe, and Israel.

 

I don't see where that is "clear" browntwn. A mate of mine was very close to being harmed in the 7/7 July attacks in London, but luckily wasn't in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Your comments are so "out there" that even, Hezbollah, considered a terrorist organisation by you and your paranoid friends, condemned the 9/11 and 7/7 attacks.

You're trying to discredit anyone that wants justice for the Palestinians.

If the laws of the Nuremburg trials were applied to the politicians in Israel, Britain and America they would all be hung and shot. FACT.

 

Did Hezbollah actually condemn the attacks? Was this after the celebrations?

 

There are a very small handful of Muslims on this forum I am speaking about. Maybe 10 guys. You know who they are - you participate on all the same threads.

I have no problems with people who want to see a Palestinian State and justice for the innocent Palestinians.

If you think justice for the Palestinians means the end of Israel - then yes, I think that is worthy of discredit.

They look so devastated that the US was attacked. The jubilation in Palestine at the death of innocent Americans will not be forgotten.

 

It seems so.

 

I completely agree.

I think all people should be treated fairly. I thinks some of the muslims in this forum are pretty scary.

The Palestinians biggest enemy is their own leaders. If they just played nice nice with Israel, and stop trying to destroy it, they would have had their own state a long time ago.

 

Can you blame them, they have been suffering with US sponsored terror for over 60 years.

 

You are joking right?

And yes, I can blame them.

They are clearly showing that they are the enemies of the US.