Israeli Airstrike Kills Leader of Army of Islam In Gaza

Muaman Abu Daf, the leader of the Army of Islam, was killed in an Israeli air strike. Reuters photo.

Al Qaeda in Gaza is having a bad week as the Israelis are mopping up their operations in Gaza...the so-called "Army of Islam" lost their leader yesterday to an Israeli air force airstrike adding to several other Army of Islam jihadis who launched their last rockets into Israel the other day.

From the article at The Long War Journal:

The Israeli Air Force killed an emir of the al Qaeda-linked Jaish al Islam, or Army of Islam, in an airstrike in northern Gaza. The airstrike is the latest by Israel that has targeted al Qaeda-affiliated terrorists in the Gaza Strip.

Israeli fighter-bombers killed Muaman Abu Daf, a leader of the Army of Islam, in a strike in the Zeitoun district in Gaza City today. Hamas, the terror group which runs Gaza, confirmed that Abu Daf was killed in the attack. Five other Palestinians were wounded. Members of the Army of Islam wrapped Abu Daf's body in the flag flown by al Qaeda in Iraq, Shabaab, and other al Qaeda affiliates in the Middle East.

The Israeli Defense Forces confirmed the strike and said the Air Force "targeted a terrorist squad that was identified moments before firing rockets at Israel from the northern Gaza Strip."

"A hit was confirmed, thwarting the rocket fire attempt," the IDF said in a statement released on its website. "The aforementioned squad is responsible for the firing of rockets at Israel in the past number of days."

Today's strike that killed Abu Daf is the third by the Israeli Air Force against what the IDF refers to as "Global Jihad-affiliated terrorists," or Gaza-based groups linked to al Qaeda. On Dec. 27, the Israeli Air Force killed Abdallah Telbani, who was involved in a plot to attack Israel from the Egyptian Sinai as well as with rocket and IED attacks along the Israeli-Gaza border.

Here's what's going on in Gaza, at least in my estimation. Israel is showing Hamas and Islamic Jihad that they have tabs on EVERY mutherfucker in Gaza that is making moves to launch rockets and they are also showing that their intelligence has organization members marked and tracked. In other words, this is a "teachable moment" for Hamas and Islamic Jihad - if Israel knows exactly where all of the Army of Islam dudes are and take them out by airstrike, they have the same ability for those other two terror groups.

You will notice that Hamas and Islamic Jihad have been very quiet since the middle of this past week.

Israel kills leader of al Qaeda-linked Army of Islam in Gaza airstrike


The Israeli Air Force killed an emir of the al Qaeda-linked Jaish al Islam, or Army of Islam, in an airstrike in northern Gaza. The airstrike is the latest by Israel that has targeted al Qaeda-affiliated terrorists in the Gaza Strip.

Israeli fighter-bombers killed Muaman Abu Daf, a leader of the Army of Islam, in a strike in the Zeitoun district in Gaza City today. Hamas, the terror group which runs Gaza, confirmed that Abu Daf was killed in the attack. Five other Palestinians were wounded. Members of the Army of Islam wrapped Abu Daf's body in the flag flown by al Qaeda in Iraq, Shabaab, and other al Qaeda affiliates in the Middle East.

The Israeli Defense Forces confirmed the strike and said the Air Force "targeted a terrorist squad that was identified moments before firing rockets at Israel from the northern Gaza Strip."

"A hit was confirmed, thwarting the rocket fire attempt," the IDF said in a statement released on its website. "The aforementioned squad is responsible for the firing of rockets at Israel in the past number of days."

Today's strike that killed Abu Daf is the third by the Israeli Air Force against what the IDF refers to as "Global Jihad-affiliated terrorists," or Gaza-based groups linked to al Qaeda. On Dec. 27, the Israeli Air Force killed Abdallah Telbani, who was involved in a plot to attack Israel from the Egyptian Sinai as well as with rocket and IED attacks along the Israeli-Gaza border.

And on Dec. 28, the Israeli Air Force killed Rami Daoud Jabar Khafarna and Hazam Mahmad Sa'adi Al Shakr, two former Hamas members who were involved with "Global Jihad-affiliated terrorist" networks in Gaza. Khafarna and Shakr were members of a "squad" that "was previously known to the IDF due to its attempt in carrying out a terror attack on the Israel-Egypt border."

There are four main Salafist groups that operate in the Gaza Strip. All four groups have expressed their support for al Qaeda. Those groups are the Jaish al Islam, Jund Ansar Allah, Jaish al Ummah, and Jaish al Mu'minun. These groups have clashed with Hamas, the Muslim Brotherhood-affiliated terror group that rules Gaza and is supported by Iran and Syria. [See LWJ report, Israel kills 'Global Jihad affiliated-terrorists' in Gaza airstrikes, for summaries of the four terror groups.]

Background on the Army of Islam

The Army of Islam "subscribes to a Salafist ideology of global jihad together with the traditional model of armed Palestinian resistance," the US State Department said in a May 2011 press release that announced the group's designation as a terrorist entity. The terror group "has previously worked with Hamas and is attempting to develop closer al Qaeda contacts."

Mumtaz Dughmush is the leader of the Army of Islam. He was listed by the US State Department as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist in August 2011.

The group has released propaganda that has expressed its affiliation and support for al Qaeda. On May 7, 2011, just five days after the death of Osama bin Laden, the Army of Islam released a statement eulogizing the al Qaeda leader. Also, in August 2008, Sheikh Abu Harith al Ansari, an Army of Islam leader, released a statement on jihadist forums that claimed bin Laden would seek to focus his attacks on "the Jews."

In addition to launching mortar and rocket attacks into Israel, the Army of Islam "has been responsible for numerous terrorist acts against the Governments of Israel and Egypt, as well as American, British and New Zealander citizens," the US State Department said. "The group is also responsible for early 2009 attacks on Egyptian civilians in Cairo and Heliopolis, which resulted in casualties and deaths." The Egyptian government accused the Army of Islam of executing the Jan. 1, 2011 bombing at a Coptic church in Alexandria that killed 21 people.

The terror group became known in 2006 after it captured Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit and then turned him over to Hamas. Also in 2006, the Army of Islam kidnapped two Fox News journalists.

In 2007, a cell from the Army of Islam, led by Khattab al Maqdasi, kidnapped BBC reporter Alan Johnston. Maqdasi is said to have fought alongside the Taliban in Afghanistan. The group demanded Abu Qatada's release in exchange for Johnston.

Israel Continues To Cull the Jihadi Herd In Gaza, 3 Rocket-firing Terrorists Killed In IDF Airstrikes

It's not like the Israelis have sent mixed signals over the past year or so about jihadis shooting rockets into Israel - if it happens, then a response will happen and today was no different when two Israeli airstrikes went down in Gaza taking out three former Hamas terrorists who apparently now belong to some al Qaeda-linked terror group. No matter, they're dead and the world rejoices.

From the article at The Long War Journal:

The Israeli Defense Forces killed three al Qaeda-linked terrorists during two airstrikes in the Gaza strip over the past 24 hours.

During an airstrike today in the northern Gaza Strip, the IDF killed Rami Daoud Jabar Khafarna and Hazam Mahmad Sa'adi Al Shakr, both described as "Global Jihad-affiliated" terrorists, the IDF said in a press release on its website. The IDF uses the term "Global Jihad-affiliated terrorist" to describe members of Salafist groups linked to al Qaeda's network in the region.

Both Khafarna and Shakr were previously members of Hamas prior to joining the unnamed Salafist group. Khararna "is known to have taken part in firing rockets at Israel," while Shakr "has planted and detonated explosive devices against IDF soldiers, along the border with the Gaza Strip."

The terrorists were members of a "squad" that "was previously known to the IDF due to its attempt in carrying out a terror attack on the Israel-Egypt border."

Today's airstrike followed another yesterday that killed Abdallah Telbani in Gaza city. Telbani was also described as a "Global Jihad-affiliated terrorist," and was involved in a plot to attack Israel from the Egyptian Sinai as well as with rocket and IED attacks along the Israeli-Gaza border, according to Reuters.

Now, I'm guessing that at some point in time today this will all be reported by the New York Times or MSNBC that these Gazans killed were single fathers feeding their babies pablum while the Israeli missiles hit their mud huts but the fact of the matter in all of this is these jihadis fire rockets off from Gaza and they literally go on a list. The Israelis know who they are, they know when they move and as today proved true...they know just when to end their life.

Israel kills 'Global Jihad affiliated-terrorists' in Gaza airstrikes


The Israeli Defense Forces killed three al Qaeda-linked terrorists during two airstrikes in the Gaza strip over the past 24 hours.

During an airstrike today in the northern Gaza Strip, the IDF killed Rami Daoud Jabar Khafarna and Hazam Mahmad Sa'adi Al Shakr, both described as "Global Jihad-affiliated" terrorists, the IDF said in a press release on its website. The IDF uses the term "Global Jihad-affiliated terrorist" to describe members of Salafist groups linked to al Qaeda's network in the region.

Both Khafarna and Shakr were previously members of Hamas prior to joining the unnamed Salafist group. Khararna "is known to have taken part in firing rockets at Israel," while Shakr "has planted and detonated explosive devices against IDF soldiers, along the border with the Gaza Strip."

The terrorists were members of a "squad" that "was previously known to the IDF due to its attempt in carrying out a terror attack on the Israel-Egypt border."

Today's airstrike followed another yesterday that killed Abdallah Telbani in Gaza city. Telbani was also described as a "Global Jihad-affiliated terrorist," and was involved in a plot to attack Israel from the Egyptian Sinai as well as with rocket and IED attacks along the Israeli-Gaza border, according to Reuters.

There are four main Salafist groups that operate in the Gaza Strip. All four groups have expressed their support for al Qaeda. Those groups are the Jaish al Islam, Jund Ansar Allah, Jaish al Ummah, and Jaish al Mu'minun. These groups have clashed with Hamas, the Muslim Brotherhood-affiliated terror group that rules Gaza and is supported by Iran and Syria.

Additionally, al Qaeda in the Sinai and its military arm, Ansar al Jihad, which announced its formation last week, are now operating in Egypt's Sinai Peninsula [see list below]. Al Qaeda in the Sinai has been establishing ties with the Gaza-based Salafist groups and is seeking to coordinate operations, a US intelligence official told The Long War Journal.

Security in the Sinai Peninsula has deteriorated since the popular uprising last winter that resulted in former President Mubarak's ouster. Hundreds of Islamists, many from Ayman al Zawahiri's Egyptian Islamic Group, have been freed from prisons, and some are thought to have returned to support terror groups.

Al Qaeda in the Sinai is also thought to have been involved in a series of attacks in August near the Israeli resort town of Eliat that killed eight Israelis, as well as bombings against a natural gas pipeline between Israel and Egypt.

Al Qaeda-linked Salafist groups in Gaza:

Army of Islam, or Jaish al Islam, is an al Qaeda-linked terror group based in Gaza. The Army of Islam is also known as the Tawhid and Jihad Brigades. It was founded in late 2005 and is currently led by Mumtaz Dughmush. It is reported to have been been financed by Mohammad Dahlan, the Fatah security chief of Gaza before Hamas took power in 2007. The Army of Islam is linked to Abu Qatada, a Palestinian who serves as al Qaeda's spiritual leader in Europe and who is currently in British custody.

The group has released propaganda expressing its affiliation with and support for al Qaeda. On May 7, 2011, just five days after the death of Osama bin Laden, the Army of Islam released a statement eulogizing the al Qaeda leader. Also, in August 2008, Sheikh Abu Harith al Ansari, an Army of Islam leader, released a statement on jihadist forums that claimed bin Laden would seek to focus his attacks on "the Jews." The US State Department designated the Army of Islam as a terrorist entity in May 2011.

Jund Ansar Allah, or the Warriors of God. Jund Ansar Allah members are thought to have fought in Afghanistan and Iraq. In August 2009, the group battled Hamas after its leader, Latif Moussa (Abu al Nour al Maqdissi), said Hamas was not sufficiently Islamic. Moussa declared an Islamic emirate, or state, in Rafah and the Palestinian territories.

Moussa's actions prompted an immediate crackdown from Hamas, which was threatened by the Salafist group's challenges to Hamas rule in Gaza. Hamas attacked Jund Ansar Allah members at their mosque and other locations. Moussa and Abu Abdullah al Suri, the group's military emir, were among those killed during the fighting [for more information, see LWJ report, Hamas and al Qaeda-linked group clash in Gaza].

Jaish al Ummah, or the Army of the Nation. The Jaish al Ummah group released the first videotape claiming to be an al Qaeda-linked group in Gaza. The video showed its masked fighters training in the desert and riding on horseback. Jaish al Ummah warned about the creeping influence of Iran and its proxy, Islamic Jihad.

Jaish al Mu'minun, or the Army of Believers; also known as Al Qaeda in Palestine. This little-known group looted the American International School, opened fire at a YMCA center, and is believed to have murdered a Christian book seller. The group claimed to have "no organic links with al Qaeda," but said "we share its ideology." In a propaganda tape, the group said its "goal is not only to liberate Palestine, but to spread Islam everywhere."

When Yemen Meets Gaza

This really is a nice piece here from The Washington Institute regarding a disturbing trend of Yemeni-based jihadis migrating to Gaza to further cloud that whole terror-ridden strip of land. I've blogged here before about how al Qaeda influenced groups have made the whole situation dicey in Gaza when their ideology butts up against Hamas and the other terror group, Islamic Jihad. This article discusses what can potentially happen when you take global jihadists and integrate them with a local type group like Hamas - interesting stuff.

When Yemen Meets Gaza


The Christmas Day pants bomber traveled a well-worn path to global terrorism: through Yemen. From the bombing of the U.S.S. Cole in the Gulf of Aden, to the role key Yemenis played in the September 11 plot, to the increasingly prominent role of Yemen-based leaders of al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, the Gulf country has long been a terrorist hot-spot. Now, a small number of Yemeni jihadists have reportedly joined others from Syria, Egypt, France, and Belgium to fight a new war on an old battlefront: Gaza.
According to intelligence officials, up to a few dozen foreign fighters have entered Gaza from Yemen and other Middle Eastern and European countries. Some are experienced fighters there to provide training, while others seek to be trained and experience jihad. Some of the Europeans have even reportedly "come with their credit cards" and financed jihadist activities while in Gaza.

The influx is beginning to have an effect on what has traditionally been a local jihad. Groups such as Hamas, the Palestinian Islamic Jihad, and the al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigade weave Palestinian nationalism and radical Islamism together but limit their operations to the Israeli-Palestinian front. Now, under the influence of more worldly jihadists, some Palestinian fighters are signing up for groups inspired by al Qaeda, fighting not for Palestine but for the whole Muslim umma.

Al Qaeda-inspired jihadist groups in Gaza have maintained a local operational focus on Israel and Gaza, but have tied their attacks to global issues like the Danish cartoon crisis or the incarceration of a jihadist ideologue in Britain. The fear among U.S. and Israeli intelligence is that such a "glocal" ideology is serving as a bridge between Palestinian nationalism and al Qaeda's global jihadist ideology. The former theoretically allows for a two-state solution; the latter requires adherents to wage violent jihad against all infidels and apostates until the creation of an Islamic state.

Hamas in Gaza -- by engaging in secular politics, failing to institute sharia law, and cracking down on fellow Palestinians who attack Israel or threaten its rule -- has created a vacuum that global jihadist groups, often populated by disgruntled Hamas operatives, have been keen to fill. Even so, membership in Gaza's global jihadist groups is estimated to be in the low hundreds. But while their capabilities are limited, they think big. In July 2008, Israeli intelligence successfully thwarted a plot against former British Prime Minister Tony Blair by one such group.

Jaish al-Islam is infamous for its involvement in the kidnappings of BBC reporter Alan Johnston in 2007. Jund Ansar Allah's activities came to the foreground in mid-August 2009, when security forces from the Hamas-run government in Gaza, together with members of Hamas's Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades terrorist wing, raided a mosque affiliated with the group and engaged in protracted gun battles with its followers. The clashes, which left 24 people dead and 130 wounded, followed a Friday sermon by the extremist cleric Sheikh Abd al-Latif Musa condemning the Hamas government and announcing the establishment of an Islamic emirate in Palestine.

Since al Qaeda-inspired groups threaten Hamas's authority, it is no surprise that Hamas has cracked down on them. What is surprising is that such groups have failed so far to connect more formally with al Qaeda, given al Qaeda's recent antipathy to Hamas and its history of incorporating local conflicts into its global jihadist campaign.

Al Qaeda likely remains unconvinced of the ideological commitment of groups like Jaish al-Islam, whose leader, Mumtaz Dughmush, is better known for his criminal past than his religious zealotry. Al Qaeda may also have concerns about the survivability of such groups, and it may be waiting patiently for groups to establish themselves before accepting them into the fold of its global jihadist movement.

Some have argued that the existence of al Qaeda-inspired groups in Gaza means that Hamas is no longer the worst option and that Israel should engage with Hamas without preconditions, lest al Qaeda take over. In fact, the global jihadist groups in Gaza lack grassroots support and are in no position to challenge Hamas's authority as the governing entity, let alone take over the Gaza Strip. Moreover, Hamas remains at the heart of the problem. Despite Hamas's ideological differences with al Qaeda leaders and its violent crackdown on global jihadists in Gaza, its own radicalization has ironically created an ideal springboard for still more extreme radicalization. When one ideologically motivated suicide bomber becomes a role model, all ideologically motivated suicide bombers become role models.

The question now is how the meeting of Gazan radical Islamic extremism and the nihilistic ideology of global jihad will play out. Add the influx of a small number of capable foreign fighters, and one is left with a disturbing quandary: What happens when Yemen comes to Gaza?

A Dream Comes True - Hamas Battles Al Qaeda In Gaza, 24 Dead

Once again, we are looking at a very early Christmas present as forces from Hamas surrounded a mosque in southern Gaza where an al Qaeda-linked group, Jund Ansar Allah, was holed up and in the ensuing fight 24 were left dead. One of the more interesting aspects of the battle was that Hamas sent in a negotiator to meet with the al Qaeda leader, Abdel-Latif Moussa, and Moussa proceeded to blow himself up killing the Hamas negotiator. LOL ! Anyway, this is precisely the type of in-fighting that one could only hope for in Gaza....with the al Qaeda group trying to enforce sharia law in Gaza and Hamas trying to hold onto its power of governance. Hopefully, this will lead to about six attacks of revenge by Jund Ansar Allah on Hamas and we'll need an electronic counter to tally all of the dead. Here's the report from The Jerusalem Post.

Oh, almost forgot...in the firefight, the Hamas military commander who masterminded the capture of IDF soldier Gilad Shalit, was killed - so yup, this is a great start to a weekend.

'Jund Ansar Allah leader killed himself'

The leader of an al-Qaida-inspired group in the Gaza Strip blew himself up during a shootout Saturday with security forces that killed 24 people and posed one of the biggest challenges to Hamas since the group seized power in Gaza two years ago.

The fighting erupted Friday when Hamas security men surrounded a mosque in the southern Gaza town of Rafah on the Egypt border where about 100 members of Jund Ansar Allah, or the Soldiers of the Companions of God, were holed up.
Flares lit up the sky overnight as Hamas machine gun fire and rocket propelled grenades slammed into the mosque. The militants inside the structure returned fire with automatic weapons and grenades of their own.
The head of the radical Islamic group, Abdel-Latif Moussa, was killed when fighting resumed after dawn Saturday, Ihab Ghussein, a Hamas Interior Ministry spokesman, told The Associated Press.
He said Moussa detonated an explosives vest he was wearing during the fighting.
"The so-called Moussa has committed suicide ... killing a mediator who had been sent to him to persuade him and his followers to hand themselves over to the government," Ghussein said.

He said the fighting ended later in the morning.
Dr. Moaiya Hassanain of the Palestinian health ministry in Gaza said of the 24 people killed, six were Hamas police officers and one an 11-year-old girl.
The group's Web site vowed vengeance, meanwhile, saying "we swear to God to avenge the martyrs' blood and we will turn their women to widows."
Hamas also confirmed the death in the fighting of one of its high level commanders, Izzadin al-Qassam Brigades commander Abu-Jibril Shimali, who is believed to have orchestrated the kidnapping three years ago of IDF soldier Gilad Schalit.
Jund Ansar Allah claims inspiration from al-Qaida's ultraconservative brand of Islam but no direct links have been confirmed.
The confrontation was triggered when the leader of the group defied Gaza's Hamas rulers by declaring in a Friday prayer sermon that the territory was an Islamic emirate.
Jund Ansar Allah and a number of other small, shadowy radical groups seek to enforce an even stricter version of Islamic law in Gaza than that advocated by Hamas.
These groups are also upset that the Hamas regime has honored a cease-fire with Israel for the past seven months.
Hamas says it does not impose its religious views on others, but only seeks to set a pious example for people to follow.
Radical splinter groups such as Jund Ansar Allah call for a global jihad against the entire Western world while Hamas maintains its struggle is only against Israeli occupation.
"They are inspired by unbalanced ideologies and in the past they carried out a number of explosions targeting Internet cafes and wedding parties," said Ghussein, adding that the groups do not have any external ties.
Hamas blocked all roads to Rafah and declared the town a closed military zone. They said they have arrested about 40 members of the group so far.
Saeb Erekat, a senior peace negotiator with Israel and a member of the rival Fatah group in the West Bank, described the situation in Gaza as "alarming."
"Gaza is going down the drain in chaos and lawlessness," he told the AP.
Jund Ansar Allah first came to public attention in June after it claimed responsibility for a failed attempt to attack Israel from Gaza on horseback.
In July, three Muslim extremists from the group holed themselves up in a building in southern Gaza, surrendering to Hamas police only after a lengthy standoff.
It is unclear how many adherents Jund Ansar Allah or other similar extremist groups have in Gaza.

Israel Slams Jordan For Cozying Up To Hamas

I blogged about the new relationship between Hamas and Jordan a few weeks ago and now, the Israelis are not happy about this historic reversal on Jordan's part. Here's what the Israelis are saying according to the report at Haaretz:

Israel on Wednesday criticized Jordanian overtures to the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, saying the Hashemite Kingdom's reversal of long-standing policy is "unhelpful to the peace process.

And here's the details about what Jordan is up to:

In an about-face, Jordan is reaching out to Hamas amid fears that a collapse of Mideast peacemaking would bring an influx of refugees. But the U.S. ally must walk a delicate line to avoid angering its U.S. and Israeli friends. Hamas is outlawed in Jordan, which has accused the group in the past of trying to destabilize it. But Jordanian intelligence chief Mohammed al-Dahabi held two covert meetings with top Hamas leaders this month, ending a nearly decade-long banishment of the group.

Now, I've put forth some theories on why Jordan would take this step - one being a genuine fear of being on the wrong side of Iran but I think it is more likely that Jordan is more concerned about the wave of al Qaeda spreading into Jordan upon their demise in Iraq and also, the growing al Qaeda presence in Gaza.

It's my opinion that the Jordanians fear some real reprisals from al Qaeda for past crackdowns and the Jordanians are trying to have a "rent a thug" in the region, namely Hamas.

Pretty crazy, huh? Well, the Jordanians have been a waiting prize for the terrorists for a long time and with this move by Jordan, what they have already done is piss off Israel and that will be a long term mistake for them. Jordan has enjoyed a relationship with Israel that has been at least calm for many years and considering the bad stuff that eventually will explode in the Middle East, I'm not so sure the Jordanians have really thought this out.

Israel slams Jordan's talks with Hamas as 'unhelpful to peace process'

The talks don't mean Jordan, which signed a 1994 peace deal with Israel, is embracing the militant group or is turning its back on Arab-Israeli negotiations. But the kingdom has clearly decided it's better to rebuild a relationship with Hamas than keep shunning it as an enemy amid doubts over the peace process' future. "We're at a crossroads and Jordan must protect itself and its national interests," said former Jordanian parliament speaker Abdul-Latif Arabiyat. Jordan fears that the possible failure of Palestinian-Israeli peace talks backed by the Bush administration, which leaves office early next year, could embolden Hamas in the neighboring West Bank, as well as Muslim extremists in Jordan and across the Mideast. Quiet contacts with Hamas could mollify any fallout for Jordan if that happens. Also, Jordan is worried a failure of talks will revive Israeli hardliner calls for ejecting West Bank Palestinians to Jordan or for parts of the West Bank to form a confederation with the kingdom as an alternative to an independent state. Jordan, which ruled the West Bank from 1950 to 1967, strongly opposes such a move, as do Hamas and other Palestinians. Jordan's worries are demographic: Roughly half of its 5.8 million population are of Palestinian descent, from families that were displaced to the kingdom in two wars with Israel since 1948. Jordan is ruled by an elite drawn from its native, Bedouin-rooted clans. Another flood of Palestinians could overwhelm Jordan and even spark civil unrest. In 1970, the Palestine Liberation Organization tried to overthrow Jordan's Hashemite monarchy by setting up a Palestinian government. But Jordan fought a bloody war, known as "Black September," as it evicted the PLO from its territory. Jordan's contacts with Hamas have already irked Israel and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, whose U.S.-backed Palestinian Authority controls the West Bank and has been battling to end Hamas' takeover of the Gaza Strip last year. Abbas sent his interior minister, Abdel Razak Yehiye, to Jordan last week to "find out what the Jordanians are up to and if their contacts with Hamas meant dropping support for the Palestinian Authority," said an Amman-based Palestinian official, insisting on anonymity citing diplomatic sensitivities. Israeli Embassy spokesman Itai Bardov in Amman called Jordan's contacts with Hamas "unhelpful to the peace process." "We're against any negotiations with Hamas because we regard it as a terrorist movement," he said. "We should find ways to strengthen the Palestinian Authority instead of legitimizing Hamas, which made an illegal military coup in Gaza."

Two Hamas Security Officers Killed In Gaza Operation

Hamas is still trying to find the bombers responsible for the bombing last week that killed five Hamas and they have zeroed in on a clan that supports Fatah - unfortunately the Helles clan is fighting back and killed two Hamas security jihadists. Let's look at some of the details here from Reuters:

Islam Shahwan, a Hamas security spokesman, said one officer was killed by an explosive charge and the other was killed by a rocket propelled grenade during fighting in the Shejaia suburb of Gaza City.
Shahwan said Hamas was conducting a campaign to arrest members of the clan who it believes were behind a series of bombings in the territory last week, including one that killed five Hamas members and a girl.
"The Helles family has become a ... military force and members of the family have been attacking, abducting and even killing people. We must put an end to their attacks on innocent citizens," said Ehab al-Ghsain, a spokesman for Hamas's Interior Ministry.

Now, many of you may have seen my post last week where I fingered the blame for the bombing that killed five Hamas on the Salafis - the al Qaeda in Gaza group. And I'm not wavering from that. Hamas is going after this clan because they are an easy target as they do support Fatah and yes, they have a violent history, but I'm not convinced that Hamas doesn't know they have the wrong culprits.

The issue that Hamas may face is if they catch the supposed bombers from this Helles clan and shut down the clan itself...how will they explain the next batch of dead Hamas from a bombing? I might be out here on a limb on this call but I just am not convinced that this little clan just all of a sudden decided to take out Hamas - they're fighting them now because Hamas tried to arrest them all.

Hamas officers killed in Gaza clashes

GAZA (Reuters) - Two Hamas security officers and one member of a rival pro-Fatah clan were killed on Saturday in the Gaza Strip, hospital officials said, in internal violence that could complicate Arab-backed Palestinian reconciliation efforts.
Hospital officials said six Hamas officers and at least 40 other people, including members of the Helles clan, affiliated with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas's Fatah faction, were wounded in the clashes.
The official Palestinian news agency WAFA said Abbas telephoned Ahmed Helles, a senior member of the clan, to express solidarity. Abbas called Hamas's campaign "unacceptable" and "a blow" to his call for national dialogue.
The recent spike in violence could hamper Egyptian-mediated talks aimed at resolving the internal Palestinian conflict, and the efforts to reunite the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip with the Fatah-dominated West Bank.
Islam Shahwan, a Hamas security spokesman, said one officer was killed by an explosive charge and the other was killed by a rocket propelled grenade during fighting in the Shejaia suburb of Gaza City.
Shahwan said Hamas was conducting a campaign to arrest members of the clan who it believes were behind a series of bombings in the territory last week, including one that killed five Hamas members and a girl.
"The Helles family has become a ... military force and members of the family have been attacking, abducting and even killing people. We must put an end to their attacks on innocent citizens," said Ehab al-Ghsain, a spokesman for Hamas's Interior Ministry.
"All attempts to convince them to hand suspects over have failed," he said, adding that dozens had been arrested during the fighting.
Helles, who also serves as a top Fatah official in Gaza, vowed to press on fighting, and has denied involvement in the bombings.
ARRESTS, KIDNAPPING
Last week's blasts touched off tit-for-tat crackdowns by Hamas in the Gaza Strip and Fatah in the West Bank. Hundreds of Palestinians have since been arrested.
On Thursday, Abbas ordered his Fatah-dominated security services to release all pro-Hamas activists in the West Bank. Twenty were released late on Friday but dozens more remained in custody, a senior security source said.
Mohammed Ghazal, a Hamas official who was kidnapped in the West Bank city of Nablus earlier on Saturday by Fatah militants, was freed, a Palestinian official said.
Hamas has said it has released more than half of the hundreds of Fatah activists who are in their custody.

Diyala Operation Off To Great Start - 35 Al Qaeda Captured

So far, so good. The huge Diyala operation in Iraq started yesterday and already 35 al Qaeda operatives and linked partisans have been arrested. Here's some of the details from the article here at Yahoo News:

"Up to midday our forces detained 35 wanted for terrorism and others involved in crime, murder and setting of explosions," defence ministry spokesman Mohammed al-Askari told AFP.
The operation involves Iraqi police and soldiers, backed by US troops, conducting searches for militiamen and illegal weapons in Diyala, which remains one of the most dangerous places in Iraq.

You can see here that the quote came from the Iraqi spokesman and so it is pretty clear that this operation is similar to the one in Mosul where the Iraqis took the lead and will probably be given the press on this. But don't be fooled - there are 10,000 U.S. troops involved in this, it is that big. And it's my guess that there will be considerable air support throughout this operation.

I don't have the link handy but there were also reports out that quite a few IED's were discovered in this initial phase of the operation, also.

It will be interesting to see if we see more of these "captures" as opposed to battle deaths - to see whether al Qaeda in Iraq is really willing to put their lives on the line for this final battle for Iraq.

Iraq nabs 35 in Al Qaeda crackdown

BAQUBA, Iraq (AFP) - Iraq forces supported by US troops said on Wednesday they had arrested 35 suspects as a major crackdown on fighters in the Al-Qaeda bastion of Diyala province entered its second day.

"Up to midday our forces detained 35 wanted for terrorism and others involved in crime, murder and setting of explosions," defence ministry spokesman Mohammed al-Askari told AFP.
The operation involves Iraqi police and soldiers, backed by US troops, conducting searches for militiamen and illegal weapons in Diyala, which remains one of the most dangerous places in Iraq.
Thousands of soldiers moved in on Tuesday, setting up a perimeter around the provincial capital city of Baquba, erecting extra police checkpoints to prevent non-residents from entering or leaving the area.
"Iraqi security forces are controlling the entry routes into Diyala to stop terrorists from escaping to other provinces," Askari said.
The US military said earlier this month that a force of 30,000 Iraqi soldiers and police would take part in the offensive, although Iraqi newspapers have said 56,000 are involved.
There has been no confirmation of the number from Iraqi officials.
The offensive follows similar Iraqi military operations in the southern provinces of Basra and Maysan, and the northern province of Nineveh, as Iraq forces try to shore-up recent security gains in the war-torn country.
Fed by the Euphrates and Diyala rivers, Diyala was once the granary of Iraq and the country's orange capital with its lush orchards, but its multi-ethnic population has proven one of the most dangerous to control.
In an interview with AFP last week, Colonel Ali al-Karkhi, commanding officer of Iraqi forces in Khan Beni Saad, said Diyala was "the most dangerous province in Iraq."
The province, which has a long border with Iran has been a centre of weapon smuggling, has suffered repeated suicide bombings, thought to be mostly orchestrated by Sunni Al-Qaeda operatives.

Huge Blast Rocks Hamas Training Camp In Gaza

Unfortunately, no Hamas were killed in a major explosion at one of their training camps in Gaza but five of their puke trainees were injured. Here's the key sentences from the article here at YNET:

It was not immediately known what caused the blast. Neither Hamas nor the IDF had an immediate comment.

Well, the IDF doesn't have a comment because they weren't involved, in my view - it would be obvious if this was an Israeli missile or helicopter attack (and there would have been a lot of dead Hamas pigs). And the reason Hamas isn't saying anything is because they it's finally hitting them, literally.

I've never been shy of conjecture here at Holger Awakens and I won't break that streak here. I mentioned here the other day that I felt the car bombing in Gaza that killed Hamas was NOT the doing of Fatah but that of the Salafi group linked to al Qaeda. And that is who I feel is responsible for this attack on the Hamas training camp. Now, mark my words...Hamas will come out with a statement that it was a weapons cache that inadvertently went off but that is a cover, just like the Fatah finger pointing.

Al Qaeda in Gaza is after Hamas' power and they just stepped up the ante for the prize. And believe me, Hamas is shaking in its boots. This is Hamas' worst nightmare as they face a bunch of Sunni/Salafi lunatics who view Hamas as mere puppets of Shia Iran. Hamas is the scourge of the Earth but in essence, this al Qaeda group in Gaza is like something out of a sci-fi novel - they don't give a shit about anything. They blow up people for the fun of it and they will not stop until Hamas has been displaced.

I think in the onset, this will be wonderful because they will be killing each other off but if al Qaedea was to get more of a foothold, the Israelis are going to face tactics they have never faced before. And they will be dealing with an enemy who isn't a chickenshit. Hezbollah is full of cowards and so is Hamas - half of them are weekend jihadists. A few Israeli gunships send half of Hamas into hiding for two weeks. Al Qaeda is different and while them killing and disrupting Hamas is welcome news...be careful what you wish for.

Blast rockets Hamas training camp in Gaza, 5 hurt

A huge blast late Wednesday rocked a training base run by Hamas in southern Gaza, and at least five people were hurt, witnesses and a health official said.
Ambulances raced to the scene of the blast late Tuesday, on the site of an evacuated Jewish settlement next to the southern Gaza city of Khan Younis. The explosion could be heard all over the city. It was not immediately known what caused the blast. Neither Hamas nor the IDF had an immediate comment.

Hamas Cracks Down On Fatah Loyalists In Gaza - Arrest 200

Hamas is on a binge, that's for sure. They have detained more than 200 citizens loyal to Fatah and have tried to lash out at some Fatah leadership after a peculiar explosion in Gaza that killed five of its Hamas members.

Here's some more details from Breitbart:

Hamas security arrested about 200 supporters of the rival Fatah group, hurled grenades at the home of a Fatah leader and set up checkpoints across Gaza on Saturday after a mysterious beachside blast that killed five Hamas members and a 6-year-old girl.
Hamas leaders blamed Fatah for Friday's explosion, and began the toughest crackdown against the rival group in recent months. A Gaza-based human rights group reported Hamas security officials arrested at least 160 Fatah loyalists, and some 40 institutions connected to the group were raided.
Fatah leaders said more than 200 of its people were rounded up, including its top leader in Gaza, Ahmad Nasser.

Now, Fatah is denying any involvement in that explosion and I find the whole incident rather odd. I mean, if it was an Israeli attack, Hamas would be livid and be already conducting strikes against Israel - thus, there has to be substantial evidence that this was a Fatah operation or perhaps an al Qaeda in Gaza operation that has duped Hamas.

Either way, it is always nice to see Hamas and Fatah at each others' throats but as has happened countless times before, I'm sure they will all hug after a week or so and reassert their alliance to destroy Israel. You know, the same old blah, blah, blah.

Now, the hilarious part of all this is that this was a car bombing that killed these Hamas pigs while they were having a picnic - talk about irony! The same warfare they use on innocent Israelis, took out their own.

What I don't understand about this is why Hamas leaders are so quick to point the finger at Fatah - it doesn't look like a Fatah operation and very much resembles the work of al Qaeda. Perhaps Hamas is too chicken to blame al Qaeda for this and feels more comfortable channeling their anger towards Fatah.

Either way, five Hamas piglets are dead and gone and for that, we can celebrate.

Fatah activists detained in Gaza

GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip (AP) - Hamas security arrested about 200 supporters of the rival Fatah group, hurled grenades at the home of a Fatah leader and set up checkpoints across Gaza on Saturday after a mysterious beachside blast that killed five Hamas members and a 6-year-old girl.
Hamas leaders blamed Fatah for Friday's explosion, and began the toughest crackdown against the rival group in recent months. A Gaza-based human rights group reported Hamas security officials arrested at least 160 Fatah loyalists, and some 40 institutions connected to the group were raided.
Fatah leaders said more than 200 of its people were rounded up, including its top leader in Gaza, Ahmad Nasser. The group denied involvement in the blast, and an aide to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said the crackdown is reducing prospects for eventual reconciliation.
If Hamas was targeted, it would be the deadliest such attack since the Islamic militants ousted Fatah-allied security forces from Gaza in a violent takeover more than a year ago.
The blast went off underneath a car parked near a crowded Gaza City beach on Friday evening, Hamas officials said. At the time, a group of Hamas activists was picnicking on the beach, Hamas said. The blast shattered the windows of the white sedan and damaged its doors.
Three Hamas members and the girl were killed immediately. Two more Hamas activists died of injuries Saturday and 15 people were wounded, according to a statement by the Palestinian Health Ministry.
Hamas Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh convened an emergency government meeting Saturday. In a statement released after the meeting, the government said it had instructed authorities "to find the people who were involved in the horrible crime yesterday."
If convicted, the perpetrators could face the death penalty.
Among the dead were a senior Hamas field commander and Iyad al-Hayeh, a nephew of Hamas lawmaker Khalil al-Hayeh, health officials said. Osama al-Hayeh, a son of the lawmaker, was wounded.
Tensions were palpable on Gaza's streets following the blast.
Thousands of Hamas loyalists marched in the funeral of the explosion's victims, waving their movement's green flag. Gunmen fired automatic rifles into the air and angrily vowed revenge.
"The collaborators who did this must be hung in Palestine Square and shot," al-Hayeh, the lawmaker, said in a eulogy, referring to Gaza City's main square.
"The people who stand behind this (attack) are from Fatah," al-Hayeh said. "We hold their leaders responsible ... and say, either be nationalists or collaborators, the choice is yours."
Al-Hayeh had previously survived two Israeli assassination attempts that killed members of his extended family.
Hamas policemen set up checkpoints on major thoroughfares and roads leading to security compounds, checking suspicious cars and forcing others to slow down.
Dozens of Fatah supporters were rounded up, said Ibrahim Abu Naja, a prominent Fatah leader in Gaza. Abu Naja said Hamas police also raided offices and institutions belonging to Fatah overnight. Abu Naja's own office was raided on Saturday.

Suicide Bombers Attack Israel

And it begins. Two suicide bombers attacked Israel today in the Israeli city of Dimona. One Israeli was killed, six wounded. There were two suicide bombers but one was shot and killed before he could detonate his explosives. Dimona is the area that houses one of Israel's nuclear facilities.
While it hasn't been confirmed, at this point the only terrorist group to somewhat claim responsibility was Al Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades which of course is the extremist branch of Abbas' Fatah.
This is all indicative, I'm afraid of things to come. Don't think for a minute that this is a coincidence since Dimona is near the Egyptian border area - the whole area is now porous and if Israeli isn't stacking forces 3 deep along that border, they are making a mistake. I realize who is claiming this bombing but this reeks of al Qaeda to me - al Qaeda often uses multiple bombers - we'll have to see if there are more groups with a claim to this.

Here's the full story from Breitbart.

1 Killed by Israel Suicide Bomber
Feb 4 05:48 AM US/Eastern
By LAURIE COPANS
Associated Press Writer

JERUSALEM (AP) - A suicide bomber on Monday blew himself up in the southern town that houses Israel's secretive nuclear reactor, killing at least one Israeli and wounding six, authorities said. Police said a second attacker was shot dead he could detonate his explosives belt.
It was the first suicide attack in Israel in a year, and officials were investigating whether the attackers came in through Egypt after Palestinians breached the Gaza-Egypt border last month. A violent offshoot of moderate Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas' Fatah movement claimed responsibility, which could complicate recently renewed peace efforts.
Government officials dismissed the notion that the heavily guarded Dimona nuclear reactor was the target of the attackers. The explosion took place in an industrial area about six miles from the reactor site.
"We heard a large explosion and people started to run. I saw pieces of flesh flying in the air," a witness identified only by her first name, Revital, told Army Radio.

"The terror organizations have showed again who they are and what they are," said Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman Arye Mekel. "Their goal was and continues to be to kill Israeli citizens in their homes and their schools and in their shopping centers."

The breach made Israel's Negev desert, where Dimona is located, more vulnerable to penetration by Palestinian militants who could enter through Egypt's porous border. Dimona is about 40 miles northeast of Egypt.
However, the Al Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades, the group affiliated with Abbas' Fatah movement that claimed responsibility, said in an e-mail to The Associated Press that it sent attackers from the West Bank town of Ramallah to carry out the "heroic martyrdom bombing in Dimona."

Israel's Shin Bet: ' Quality ' Weapons Have Entered Gaza Through Egypt

A very brief blurb from YNET has Israel's intelligence agency, Shin Bet, announcing that "high quality" weapons have been smuggled into Gaza through Egypt during all of this keystone kop activity driven by the border breaches by Hamas and al Qaeda in Gaza.
Shin Bet Director, Yuval Diskin, also said that highly trained jihadist operatives also entered Gaza through the open borders - terrorists trained in the countries of Iran, Syria and Egypt.

Let's face it, the efforts by Hamas and al Qaeda to open the Gaza border with Egypt had been planned for many months. It was revealed after the breach that Hamas had been working at cutting the steel on those fences for many months. Hamas, al Qaeda and Islamic Jihad then started the campaign of missile attacks on Israel - and when Israel retaliated killing several top leaders of Hamas and Islamic Jihad, the missiles this time did not stop. Why not? Because it was the plan of the jihadists to keep the pressure on until Israel would resort to the second phase of retaliation and Israel kindly obliged the jihadists in blockading the Gaza border with Israel and stopping the fuel shipments. Thus, the rampage into Egypt by the palis would be see as desparation and for food and supplies. Remember, we all saw how Hamas coordinated fake scenes of power outages to skew world opinion to their plight.

Egypt was played in this whole scenario. Israel was played in this scenario. And the world, again, was played in this scenario. Even more, the strategy and tactics of this were more than likely laid out many months ago when the leaders of Hamas and Syria were flown out to Tehran for a get together. The peons of Hamas aren't nearly clever enough to strategize this - this has all of the markings of an Iranian plan.
So now, the end result is that more than likely, more sophisticated missiles have been brought into Gaza and at the same time, I would bet that the latest Iranian IED technology has been brought in along with the IED trainers.
This does not bode well for Israel. This smells of a spring offensive.

Brief story on Shin Bet announcement here from YNET.

Shin Bet: ‘Quality’ weapons have entered Gaza through Egypt

Shin Bet Director, Yuval Diskin, said Sunday that “high quality” weaponry has entered Gaza in the last few days through the breached border with Egypt.
Diskin further noted that many terror operatives who were trained in Iran, Syria and Egypt, have also re-entered Gaza through the breached border.

Terrorist Team of Al Qaeda, Hamas and Fatah Arrested In Egypt

Oh boy. This is the first proof ever of all terrorist factions in Gaza and the West Bank teaming together in an operation and to make it even more dicey, they got caught in Egypt! Members of Hamas' military wing, Abba's Fatah forces and al Qaeda in Gaza were together as a team in Egypt, equipped with explosives in their possesion. To break down the "dream" team or more appropriately, the "nightmare" team:

2 members of Islamic Jihad (tied to Abbas' Fatah)
8 members of Hamas' military wing
2 members of al Qaeda (Saudi Arabian nationality)

So there you have it, the proof that the terrorist coalition in Gaza has begun. Even though these jihadists were planning on Israeli attacks on the Sinai border with Israel, Egypt is a target (they just don't know it yet), we know Israel will always be a target but what the others in the region will soon find out is that Saudi Arabia is a target, Jordan is a target and Lebanon is a target. It's my belief that this all started with influx of al Qaeda into Gaza - I believe that al Qaeda brought their organizational and strategic schemes to Hamas and Islamic Jihad and now they are all working towards the chaos they desire.
It's a mess. A real mess.

Here's the brief story from DEBKA.

DEBKAfile: Egyptian security forces in Sinai detain first mixed Palestinian-al Qaeda team for attacks on Israel

Detained Friday, Feb. 1, they were carrying explosives for attacks on Israelis in Sinai and across border. Ten were described as Palestinians from the Gaza Strip, two from “the Gulf." DEBKAfile’s counter-terror sources identify these two as Saudi members of al Qaeda, eight as belonging to Hamas’ military arm and the remaining two as Jihad Islami. This is the first proof of operational links in the Gaza Strip and Middle East between the Palestinian Hamas and its allies, including Mahmoud Abbas’ Fatah, and al Qaeda.
Apart from closing down parts of southern Israel to civilian traffic and an ineffective blockade, Israel’s armed forces have not been called upon to deal with this new threat from Gaza.

Israel Flattens Hamas Ministry Building in Gaza, 0 Dead

Talk about making a statement! The Israelis, whose patience has to be near its end with all of the missiles coming in from Gaza, flattened the Hamas Interior Ministry building. I'm not sure of the time of day or evening but it was empty so no bad guys got dead but I'm sure the Israelis were more than likely sending the signal.
Here's an example of a Gaza woman whining about the attack:

"My house did not only shake, it jumped from its foundations and back down. How could they drop such a bomb in a residential area on top of people's heads?" she said

Now, I'd like to ask this same palestinian woman a question. How could Hamas have their governmental building in the middle of a residential area? How come YOU didn't complain to Hamas that they were putting you and your neighbors in danger? Why didn't the mighty Hamas grow a pair and put their buildings in plain view?

As far as the missile attacks from Gaza, it is apparent that al Qaeda influences may be in effect in that the missiles are coming from mobile vans as opposed to more traditional pali land based sites. The camouflaged vans drive around and around and around for hours until they appear to have lost surveillance then stop and fire off missiles and then retreat. I hope the Israelis realize that al Qaeda influence will ever change the code of battle on the Gaza border.

Here's the full story.

Israel flattens Hamas ministry in Gaza Strip

GAZA (Reuters) - Israel bombed the Hamas-run Interior Ministry in Gaza and closed border crossings with the strip on Friday, sharply escalating what it called a campaign to halt Palestinian rocket attacks.
The four-storey ministry complex in Gaza City was empty at the time but one woman was killed and at least 30 others nearby were wounded in the air strike, medical officials said.
"It felt like an earthquake," said Umm Fahmi, a woman who lives across from the blast site.

A second Israeli air strike minutes later damaged Hamas's so-called naval headquarters in the central Gaza Strip.
Israel has killed at least 33 Palestinians in Gaza this week as part of what officials describe as a stepped-up campaign to pressure Hamas to rein in militants who have fired more than 110 rockets into the Jewish state in the last three days alone.
An Israeli army spokeswoman confirmed the air strikes, calling the targets "Hamas terrorist" positions.
"This is part of our response to Qassam (rocket) fire against Israel," the spokeswoman said.

Irony: Bombing Plot Foiled By ....Hamas!

This is too funny! I was on the floor laughing for 15 minutes over this! Get this - Hamas' Leader, Ismail Haniyeh, was set to speak at a rally in the Gaza Strip and members of Hamas find a guy in the crowd with a backpack full of 4 kilos of TNT ! Hey Hamas, welcome your friends al Qaeda to Gaza! hahahaha
Can you imagine? Hamas, the mighty force of terror in the Middle East, is now running around checking backpacks to protect ITS leaders and people from being bombed!!!!
You could cut the irony with a butter knife. I am sobered, however, that the bomber didn't succeed in blowing Haniyeh up, as that would have been a plus for mankind. But hey, the week is young!
Enjoy your new neighborhood, Hamas...al Qaeda is there to stay and they don't like to be #2.

Here's the full story.

Hamas foils attempt to plant explosive in rally attended by leader

Hamas security foiled an attempt to plant an explosive in a rally attended by their leader in the Gaza Strip, they said.
Forces at a Hamas rally earlier in the day found 4 kilograms of TNT in the backpack of a man during a search after he was stopped at the entrance to the gathering, Hamas security spokesman Ihab Ghussein said.
The suspect tried to enter the rally as Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh was speaking but it was not clear if he was the target, Ghussein said.
"He confessed that there were other accomplices," Ghussein said. "They are now being pursued."
Hamas forces are questioning the man, he said.

The attempted attack came during heightened tensions between Hamas and its rival, Fatah. Hamas wrested control of the Gaza Strip from Fatah-allied forces in June. A government of the leader of Fatah, President Mahmoud Abbas, rules over the West Bank after kicking Hamas out of a unity government in response to its seizure of Gaza.

Jihadists In Gaza Attack School

Okay, it is on. This folks is going to signal the start of the power struggle for Gaza. As promised, al Qaeda has become the newest resident terrorist group in Gaza joining Hamas and Islamic Jihad and a few Fatah stragglers, but this new attack is pure al Qaeda. It is terror all wrapped up in islamic fundamentals.
Mark my words, the Israelis are going to be able to sit back with their feet up as the carnage starts in Gaza. Hamas will not stand by long as al Qaeda attacks whatever infrastructure is left in Gaza and I personally feel that Hamas is in for a rude awakening here. Al Qaeda's influence in Gaza is going to bring with it the darkest side of terror, the tortures and autrocities we have seen in Iraq, and quite frankly, I don't think the Iranian backed silver spooners from Hamas have the stomach for it.
This is going to get ugly (or beautiful, depending on your point of view....Haha).

Here's the full story.

Palestinian gunmen attack school in Gaza

GAZA (Reuters) - Palestinian gunmen stormed the American International School in the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip on Saturday, smashing windows, seizing computers and torching buses but causing no injuries, security sources said.
In a leaflet left behind after the attack, the gunmen claimed affiliation with al Qaeda and vowed to attack other symbols of "immorality" throughout the coastal territory.
There has been a series of attacks over the past year in Gaza attributed to Islamist groups that claim to be followers of al Qaeda.
The school is a private, Palestinian institution that is part of an association of "American Schools" in the Middle East. The curriculum includes English and Arabic studies. None of the teachers is American.
The school has been a frequent target for militants. Three days ago, gunmen claiming ties to al Qaeda fired a rocket-propelled grenade at the building during a visit to the region by U.S. President George W. Bush.

Hamas Islamists seized control of the Gaza Strip after routing forces loyal to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas last June.
Hamas's interior ministry said in a statement: "An investigation was immediately launched into the attack and we will pursue and bring the attackers to justice regardless of their motives."