Hamas battle with Al Qaeda radicals kills 13, injures 100

[Zulfiqar]

GAZA (Al Arabiya, Agencies)

At least thirteen Palestinians were killed and more than 100 others injured in the Gaza Strip on Friday in an exchange of fire between radical Islamists and Hamas police, medical sources said.

The clash took place when Hamas police confronted the Islamist dissidents, who had gathered at a mosque in the southern city of Rafah near the border with Egypt.

Gaza Ambulance and Emergency Chief Dr Muaweya Hasanein told Al Arabiya that those killed in the clashes include two from Hamas and rest from the Islamist radicals.

"Eight of the injured people have very critical wounds in their heads as they were exposed to direct shooting inside the mosque," he said.

Islamist radicals from a Palestinian group called Jund Ansar Allah defied the Hamas rulers of Gaza earlier by declaring an "Islamic emirate" in the territory and staging a defiant display of arms.

Though the "Warriors of God" rallied only a few hundred men for their event at a Gaza mosque, it was the latest challenge to Hamas's nationalist brand of Palestinian Islam by groups espousing a pan-Arab militia aligned with al-Qaeda.

More details in the link

http://www.alarabiya.net/articles/2009/08/14/81804.html

 

[Metallic]

***Update***
24 killed, 150 wounded in Gaza in fightings between Hamas and Jund Ansar Allah

Hamas: Leader of al-Qaida-inspired group killed
15 august 2009

RAFAH, Gaza Strip – 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. The jihadis have posed one of the biggest challenges to Hamas since the militant 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 a total of 24 people, including six Hamas police officers and an 11-year-old girl, were killed in the violence that also wounded 150.

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, Abu Jibril Shimali, whom Israel said orchestrated the capture three years ago of Sgt. Gilad Schalit, an Israeli soldier who is still being held by Hamas.

The fighting appeared to confirm Hamas' iron rule in Gaza despite a punishing Israeli and Egyptian-led blockade that keeps all but basic humanitarian supplies from entering the impoverished seaside territory.

It also underscored the group's determination not to allow opponents with differing ideologies to gain a foothold in Gaza. The Gaza Strip and the West Bank are together supposed to make up a future Palestinian state, but Hamas' bloody seizure of Gaza in 2007 created rival governments in the two territories — located on opposite sides of Israel — that are complicating Palestinian efforts to gain independence.

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 the 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.

The hard-line groups are perhaps the most serious opposition Hamas has faced since it seized control of Gaza and ousted its rivals in the Fatah movement in a five-day, bloody civil war in June 2007.

Hamas security 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.

Hamas is also investigating the launching of 11 homemade rockets from Gaza into Egypt on Friday. Only five of the rockets detonated, injuring a young girl, said Egyptian security forces.

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.


Source: Associated Press

 

[Zulfiqar]

I don't understand, why make a group and blow yourself after some days. A bunch of lunatics.

 

[Righteous_Fire]

Mian Asad Bro! what have you done!!

Your topic says:

Hamas battle with Al Qaeda radicals

the link says nothing about Al Qaeda radicals,

please be careful, they did not belong to Al Qaeda, they were a faction within the Hamas who had declared they were free to form an Islamic State within their are of authority so as to undermine anyone who doesnt support and Islamic Palestine viz a viz primarily the Fatah and secondarily to their own Hamas brothers.

 

[Developereo]

the link says nothing about Al Qaeda radicals,

From the Update posted later by Metallic

Jund Ansar Allah claims inspiration from al-Qaida's ultraconservative brand of Islam but no direct links have been confirmed.
[...]
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 the Israeli occupation.

 

[Righteous_Fire]

From the Update posted later by Metallic

Jund Ansar Allah claims inspiration from al-Qaida's ultraconservative brand of Islam but no direct links have been confirmed.

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 the Israeli occupation.

The thing is, they have been labeled as "kayda inspired", and you may ask who labeled them?!! when I researched the subject I found that this "label" first appeared about them in the Haaretz and in the NYTimes. Does that make it feel funny!!?

I mean, what is the purpose behind the label.

and after that has anyone asked what the true story of these people is?

Here are the links, note the dates:

A recent Haaretz (15 august 2009)

Hamas: Head of Al-Qaida affiliate killed in Gaza - Haaretz - Israel News

From Sir Arthur James Balfour's Media propaganda tool aka BBC (14th august 2009)

BBC NEWS | Middle East | Deadly gun battle in Gaza mosque

and now the reality, waay waay back in 2008 from Haaretz (note, they were preparing for a rumored nasty showdown later that year in Gaza):

Tensions high in Gaza as Hamas cracks down on rival groups - Haaretz - Israel News




Bottomline: They have always used labels to divide us, when we fall into their sweet laid out trap, we lose! Big Time

 

[muse]

Jund Ansar Allah

Allah has "companions"? Can Allah be Allah and have "companions?

It is the most hurtful of blasphemy to disavow Tauheed - these mad dogs must be put down by any, all means possible. Good for Hamas, put these mad dogs down!

 

[Developereo]

Bottomline: They have always used labels to divide us, when we fall into their sweet laid out trap, we lose! Big Time

True, but Hamas wants to keep their war focussed on Israel.

These other guys want to turn this into a GWOT battlefield. If these clowns end up blowing up an American embassy or something, you will see US marines levelling Gaza and doing Israel's dirty work for them once again.

I don't blame Hamas for silencing these idiots.

 

[Righteous_Fire]

True, but Hamas wants to keep their war focussed on Israel.

These other guys want to turn this into a GWOT battlefield. If these clowns end up blowing up an American embassy or something, you will see US marines levelling Gaza and doing Israel's dirty work for them once again.

I don't blame Hamas for silencing these idiots.

I completely agree,

but what I didnt agree with was the label, and the sense of not wanting to go beyond that label and ask what really is going on. Remember, that label was put on them by their enemies not Hamas and their enemies ultimately launched a campaign against them afterwards, the statistics of which are just cruel:

Total killed: 1,417 (according to PCHR sources), 1,166 (according to IDF sources)
Guards and policemen: 491* (according to PCHR sources), 709 (according to IDF sources)
Civilians: 926 (according to PCHR sources), 295 (according to IDF sources)

Total wounded: 5,303(according to PCHR sources)

 

[EjazR]

From the Update posted later by Metallic

Jund Ansar Allah claims inspiration from al-Qaida's ultraconservative brand of Islam but no direct links have been confirmed.
[...]
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 the Israeli occupation.

Bro, I know you didn't mean it by I would request you use something like perverted, misguided, deviant or twisted e.t.c. brand of Islam.

ultra-conservative would mean that they are trying to follow Islam very closely but that is far from the truth.

 

[Developereo]

Total killed: 1,417 (according to PCHR sources), 1,166 (according to IDF sources)
Guards and policemen: 491* (according to PCHR sources), 709 (according to IDF sources)
Civilians: 926 (according to PCHR sources), 295 (according to IDF sources)

Total wounded: 5,303(according to PCHR sources)

It pains me to say it, but the Palestinians are fighting a lost cause.
They have been all but abandoned by everyone else.

The tinpot Arab dictators only make noises but offer no substantive support. In fact, they want to keep the issue alive and the Palestinians suffering because it serves to divert attention away from domestic problems.

Militarily, even combined, the Arabs know that they are no match for Israel. Economically, they have squandered their oil wealth on useless, shiny Western-made toys.

To give a comparison, for several decades now, Egypt has been the second highest recipient of US foreign aid, after Israel. Israel has turned their desert into a livable country with a standard of life comparable to the West. Egypt, meanwhile, is ruled by a tyrant and continues to be a third world basket case.

 

[Righteous_Fire]

It pains me to say it, but the Palestinians are fighting a lost cause.
They have been all but abandoned by everyone else.

The tinpot Arab dictators only make noises but offer no substantive support. In fact, they want to keep the issue alive and the Palestinians suffering because it serves to divert attention away from domestic problems.

Militarily, even combined, the Arabs know that they are no match for Israel. Economically, they have squandered their oil wealth on useless, shiny Western-made toys.

To give a comparison, for several decades now, Egypt has been the second highest recipient of US foreign aid. Israel has turned their desert into a livable country with a standard of life comparable to the West. Egypt, meanwhile, is ruled by a tyrant and continues to be a third world basket case.

(sigh) you are right Bro! The Arab Dictators are foreign funded stooges who live to serve themselves, they have starved their own people of Democracy, Education and Industrial and Economic Growth!

Living in their feel good planet peaceful they live in a self created mirage, they are no match for their enemies

But there are millions of Muslims, out there, weak as they are and made so by their pawns of leaders, whose hearts still beat in their millions with that far away weak pulse of the Palestinians

I am surprised to know when I find each day, how many Muslims, South Americans, Chinese and many westerners support the Palestinian cause.

And what do we ask? A separate homeland for the Palestinians and the Jews. A two state solution. But those poor souls are denied even that

 

[Zulfiqar]

the link says nothing about Al Qaeda radicals,

Ok i may have misquoted the article and they are Al-Qaeda inspired but remember Al-Qaeda is an ideology. They stretch from somalia to Pakistan(TTP).

I have a somalian friend at my university and he also says the same about Al-Shabab.The follow the same takfiri ideology.Palestine must not fall to these guys.

Good effort by Hamas.

About Palestine, one solution can be to out breed the israelis exponentially.This will lead them closer to a two state solution.

 

[Thomas]

Ok i may have misquoted the article and they are Al-Qaeda inspired but remember Al-Qaeda is an ideology. They stretch from somalia to Pakistan(TTP).

I have a somalian friend at my university and he also says the same about Al-Shabab.The follow the same takfiri ideology.Palestine must not fall to these guys.

Good effort by Hamas.

About Palestine, one solution can be out breed the israelis exponentially.This will lead them closer to a two state solution.

except Hamas does not want a two state solution.

 

[Zulfiqar]

except Hamas does not want a two state solution.

If someone builds colonies inside the Palestinian territory, grabs more and more land from them and builds walls in such a way that the territory becomes an open air prison then the Palestinians have their full right of not settling for peace until and unless the israelis leave their territory. You guys want democracy in the middle east. Well guess what, Palestinians elected Hamas. They are the choice of Gazans.