| Masada al-Mujahideen | |
|---|---|
| مأسدة المجاهدين | |
| Political leader | Abu al-Walid al-Maqdisi |
| Dates of operation | 2008–2013 |
| Allegiance |  Al-Qaeda |
| Ideology | Salafist jihadism Wahhabism |
| Status | defunct |
| Allies | Tawhid and Jihad Group in Jerusalem Mujahideen Shura Council in the Environs of Jerusalem |
| Opponents |  United States Israel Hamas Jaysh al-Ummah |
| Wars | Gaza–Israel conflict Salafi-jihadist insurgency in the Gaza Strip |
Masada al-Mujahideen (Arabic:مأسدة المجاهدين) was aPalestinian terrorist organization associated withAl-Qaeda operating within theGaza Strip.[1]
The group first came into prominence after releasing a video online showing them dropping a bomb on the Israeli city ofSderot.[2] This prompted theIsraeli Air Force to carry out airstrikes against Masada al-Mujahideen in theGaza Strip.[3] Following clashes with theIsraeli Defense Forces, another jihadist organization in the Gaza Strip,Jaysh al-Ummah (also known as the Army of theUmmah), began fighting Masada al-Mujahideen due to disapproval of their activities.[4] Later that year, Masada al-Mujahideen established a media wing for propaganda called Riah,[5] which initially operated onGoogle+ until its account was taken down.[6] The group then moved its operations to Facebook,[7] where it created eulogies forOsama bin Laden,[8] Attiya Allah,[9] andAbu Yahya al-Libi.[10]
Masada al-Mujahideen, a couple of months after the bomb attack, threatened further "operations" in Israel.[11] Later that day, they claimed responsibility for a train fire inHaifa.[12] A few days later, they also claimed responsibility for acargo ship fire inEilat.[13] In July 2011, they claimed responsibility for a forest fire inJerusalem[14] and the Alfei Menashe fire.[15] In October 2011, they took responsibility for multiple arson attacks in Israel.[16] In November 2011, they claimed responsibility for an arson attack on a chemical factory owned by the Israeli government,[17] and in December, they claimed responsibility for an arson attack on an industrial center.[18] In 2012, they claimed responsibility for an arson attack inBe'er Ya'akov[19] and set a military base inAshkelon, owned by theIsrael Defense Forces, on fire.[20] Later that month, they claimed responsibility for an arson attack on an airplane factory in Haifa[21] and a residential fire in the same city.[22] In May 2012, in Northern Israel, they claimed responsibility for a series of fires and arson attacks, including some in theGolan Heights.[23] The following day, they also claimed responsibility for fire attacks targeting IDF guards.[24]
A month after the cargo ship fire, Masada al-Mujahideen attackedPalestinian Liberation Organization's soldiers following Palestine's initiation of land negotiations with Israel.[25] The group also began carrying out light attacks onHamas in response to their treatment of prisoners of war and regular detainees.[26] In 2012, Masada al-Mujahideen accused Hamas of being responsible for the death ofSalafi Jihadist leaderAbu al-Walid al-Maqdisi and subsequently threatened and carried out attacks against Hamas.[27][28]
In 2012, Masada al-Mujahideen attempted to claim responsibility for the Nevada forest fires, but their claim was later disproved.[29]
In 2013, during one ofArizona's wildfires, Masada al-Mujahideen claimed responsibility with the statement, "Masada al-Mujahideen Fulfilled its Promise and Attacked America Again After the Expiration of the Period with Fires that Achieved Historic Results."[30] They also celebrated the deaths of 19 firefighters who were attempting to put out the wildfire. However, local authorities inArizona rejected the organization's claim.[31][32]