Hamas has joined with Al Qaeda to rid themselves of the “secular” Fatah and turn Gaza into an Islamic state. The time for joking about both sides losing is over. This is really, really bad news for Israel, the region, and frankly, the world. Another safe haven for terrorist training is a very bad thing.
Egyptian and Jordanian Intelligence Chiefs: “Al-Qaeda is Leading the Battles in Gaza” - Semadar Peri
According to the heads of Egyptian and Jordanian Intelligence, General Omar Sulayman and General Muhammad Dahbi, al-Qaeda caused the violation of the Mecca Agreement for a Palestinian unity government, the renewal of clashes between Hamas and Fatah, and the conversion of the strip into “Gazastan.” Egyptian intelligence officers presented photographs of the warfare, arguing that “the type of fighting that is being waged now in Gaza is characteristic of the style of al-Qaeda Iraq.” The intelligence chiefs expressed concern that the bloody clashes in Gaza will spill over to neighboring countries: Egypt, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia. (Yediot Ahronot-Hebrew, 13Jun07)
And it gets worse.
There was one question about al-Qaeda’s presence in the Gaza Strip during 2006 that needed to be answered. Did it involve a foreign presence of al-Qaeda operatives from other Arab countries or was this Palestinian al-Qaeda affiliate just a group of Gazans who ideologically identified with global jihad but had no actual operational links with Osama bin Laden’s organization? For example, some have suggested that al-Qaeda in Gaza is nothing more than members of powerful clans, like that of Mumtaz Dagmoush, who are just using global jihadist rhetoric to distinguish themselves from any central authority whether it is led by Hamas or Fatah. But was the growth of al-Qaeda in Gaza totally a local affair? Significantly, al-Hayat answered this question when it reported on April 4, 2006, “a definite presence” of al-Qaeda operatives in Gaza who had infiltrated from Egypt, Sudan, and Yemen.
Moreover, a little over a month later Egypt’s Interior Ministry disclosed that two terrorist operatives involved in the April 2006 attack on the Egyptian Red Sea resort of Dahab had undergone training in the use of weapons and explosives in Gaza. They confessed to belonging to an organization called al-Tawhid wal-Jihad, which was also an earlier name for Abu Musab al-Zarqawi’s organization before it became al-Qaeda Iraq.4 Thus al-Qaeda related groups in Gaza appeared to have become involved in military operations and were not only propagating their religious worldview. The rise of this kind of militant jihadism in Gaza comes against the backdrop of repeated calls by Ayman al-Zawahiri, the deputy head of al-Qaeda, to export military operations from the war in Iraq to neighboring countries.
And it looks like Al Qaeda will remain unfettered in Gaza/Hamastan.
Anyone in Israel side still contemplating the question of a Palestinian partner might also need to do some rethinking. In Gaza, at least, it seems there is nobody left for Israel to talk to. The Rafah crossing yesterday had a long line of Palestinians seeking to leave Gaza. Haaretz received letters from Palestinians asking Prime Minister Ehud Olmert to save them from Hamas.
That, at the moment, looks like the last thing Olmert plans to do. Officials in the government and defense establishment are following developments with grave concern. But Israel, so long as it can afford to, will steer clear of military involvement in Gaza. The directives given to the army’s Southern Command talk about a high state of alert and readiness, but also restraint. The Israel Defense Forces will not enter the internal Palestinian conflict unless it is forcibly dragged into it. Qassam rocket fire will not elicit a wide-scale ground incursion, particularly when the chief of staff is still extremely preoccupied with preparing for a possible flare-up in the Syrian arena.
It looks like there are going to be two Palestinian states. One in the West Bank, and another in Gaza. But the one in Gaza—well, that one’s going to be as bad as Afghanistan was for the people, although hopefully not as good for terrorist training.
I’m wondering now if Egypt is going to get involved. They’re at huge risk from Al Qaeda, and have their own problems with the Muslim Brotherhood.
Another front in the war on terror has just opened.