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Last update - 00:04 01/01/2009
Hamas: Head of Al-Qaida affiliate killed in Gaza
By Avi Issacharoff, Haaretz Correspondent, and Agencies
Tags:al-Qaida,Warriors of God 

Hamas crushed an al-Qaida-inspired group in an hours-long standoff that came to a fiery end when a large explosion killed the radical Muslim group's leader inside his Gaza home on Saturday.

The fighting was sparked by a rebellious sermon by the group's leader, and his dramatic death put an end to the greatest internal challenge to Hamas' rule since it took control of Gaza two years ago.

In all, the fighting claimed 24 lives - including that of a senior Hamas official who Israel says masterminded the abduction of Israel Defense Forces soldier Gilad Shalit. It was the highest death toll in the territory since the Israel-Hamas war earlier this year.
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The crackdown targeted Jund Ansar Allah, or the "Soldiers of the Companions of God," one of a number of small, shadowy groups that are even more radical than Hamas. The decisive confrontation, in which 95 group members were arrested, solidified Hamas' iron rule in Gaza.

The radical groups have sought to expand the Palestinians' battle beyond Israel to include the Western World as well. And in Gaza they have tried to enforce a strict version of Islamic law to which Hamas has not agreed.

They have also attacked Internet cafes and wedding parties over behavior they consider improper.

The crackdown highlights Hamas' desire to limit its struggle to the Palestinian cause and to distance itself from militants espousing al-Qaida's ideology, though the United States, Israel and others consider Hamas a terrorist organization.

The fighting broke out late Friday when Hamas security men surrounded a mosque in the southern Gaza town of Rafah on the Egyptian border where about 100 members of Jund Ansar Allah were holed up.

Their leader, Abdel-Latif Moussa, provoked Hamas by declaring Gaza an Islamic emirate during a Friday prayer sermon and warning its leaders against invading his mosque.

The Hamas forces raided the mosque, setting off a fierce gunbattle. Flares lit up the sky and the sound of machine gun fire echoed throughout the night.

Moussa escaped with some bodyguards to his home where another standoff ensued.

Early Saturday, an explosion went off as Hamas was trying to convince Moussa to surrender, said Ihab Ghussein, a Hamas Interior Ministry spokesman.

"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 told The Associated Press.

It is unclear whether Moussa detonated the explosives vest he was wearing, or whether it was one of his bodyguards.

Dr. Moaiya Hassanain of the Palestinian Health Ministry in Gaza said 24 people were killed, including six Hamas police officers and an 11-year-old girl. At least 150 people were wounded, he said.

Hamas confirmed one of its casualties was a high-ranking commander, Abu Jibril Shimali, whom Israel said orchestrated the capture three years ago of Shalit, who is still being held by Hamas.

'We declare the birth of the Islamic Emirate'

Jund Ansar Allah seeks to enforce an even stricter version of Islamic law than that advocated by Hamas.

The clashes came as Jund Ansar radicals defied the Hamas rulers of Gaza on Friday by declaring an "Islamic emirate" in the territory.

Speaking before weekly prayers, Abdel-Latif Moussa - known to followers by the al-Qaida-style nom de guerre Abu al-Nour al-Maqdessi - announced the start of theocratic rule in the Palestinian territories, starting at Rafah, and vowed to implement Islamic laws.

"We declare the birth of the Islamic Emirate," declared Moussa, a heavily-bearded, middle-aged cleric in a red robe who was guarded by four black-clad, masked men with assault rifles. One wore what appeared to be an explosive suicide belt.

An audience of several hundred men filled the mosque with cheers and shouts. Al-Qaida uses the historical term "emirate" to mean clerical rule across the Islamic world.

Ismail Haniyeh, who heads Gaza's Hamas government, denied in his Friday sermon that there were any non-Palestinian gunmen in the territory, as alleged by Israel which charges that veterans of wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have taken up residence.

"Such groups do not exist on the soil of the Gaza Strip...there are no fighters in Gaza except Gazan fighters," he said.

Such "Zionist propaganda" from Israel was simply an attempt to turn the world against Hamas, he said.

A Hamas spokesman said Saturday that Moussa had ties to Palestinian Authority security forces.

Hamas official Sami Abu Zuhri called Moussa's speech "wrong thinking" and in a clear reference to Al-Qaida added that his group "has no affiliation with foreign groups". Hamas's Interior Ministry was blunter, calling Moussa "mad".

His group announced its existence in Gaza two months ago, after three of its members were killed in a border raid on an Israeli base in which gunmen rode on horseback.

Outside the mosque on Friday, nearly 100 masked fighters of the group in Pakistani-style dress, wearing their hair long in a style believed to imitate the prophet Mohammad, carried automatic weapons and rocket-propelled grenade launchers.

Men of the Hamas armed wing and security forces took positions nearby. The group accuses Hamas of oppressing them, including making arrests and confiscating weapons.

Human rights groups last month criticized an order by a Hamas-appointed judge that women lawyers cover their hair, and a campaign by its religious affairs ministry to encourage the public to follow Islamic instructions.

Moussa warned Hamas against implementing a decision to take over the mosque where he leads prayers for his followers: "If they approach the mosque they should know their days will be cut short," the grey-whiskered cleric said.

Moussa said his group would not initiate attacks against Hamas but "whoever sheds our blood, his blood will be shed."

He urged "everyone who has a weapon" to join the group and carry out decisions to be issued by the armed wing in coming weekly sermons. The group believes democracy is prohibited by Islam because it follows earthly law instead of God's word.

"Who are you afraid of? America? Britain? France? The European Union? You should fear only God," Moussa said in a warning to Hamas leaders seeking dialogue with the West.

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 Associated Press.

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.

Israel unilaterally ended its occupation of the Gaza Strip in 2005 and withdrew its forces. Islamist radicals began to surface in Gaza following the takeover of the Israeli-blockaded enclave by Hamas in 2007, when it routed the forces of the secular Fatah movement of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.


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      1.   A bit confused00:53 | bart01/01/09
      2.   Hamas, don`t let them do this00:08 | Dave01/01/09
      3.   What`s Next? The Devil Proclaiming Gaza Hell?00:09 | Jane01/01/09
      4.   Disengagement, what an excellent idea00:33 | Eli01/01/09
      5.   You should fear only God00:01 | Jon01/01/09
      6.   dogs attract flees00:16 | Cipora Julianna Kohn01/01/09
      7.   "Real world" example for Obama and Gideon Levy00:19 | Gerry01/01/09
      8.   Someone please remind me....00:21 | Gilles01/01/09
      9.   New islamic emirate declared in gaza00:33 | norma dosky01/01/09
      10.   Gaza ruled by so many gangs, answerable to no-one.00:37 | Dan01/01/09
      11.   This will bring Hamas more power00:49 | chilem01/01/09
      12.   Where is the UN to check abuse of rights?00:53 | S01/01/09
      13.   I wish them a long and successful fight!00:02 | Johnny01/01/09
      14.   With this natural development,00:07 | RfaelMoshe01/01/09
      15.   Gilles00:08 | Georges01/01/09
      16.   #1...the bible, especially Old Testament, is also full of00:11 | Indoneisan01/01/09
      17.   Popcorn anyone?00:12 | Mohe01/01/09
      18.   Jewish settlers have a genocidal ideology00:15 | American living here01/01/09
      19.   Johnny, I also wish both sides good luck in their fight00:18 | judith01/01/09
      20.   Hamas vs Al-Qaida00:21 | Adam01/01/09
      21.   Hamas calls Maqdessi "mad?" Guess it takes one to know one.00:26 | just an observation01/01/09
      22.   All staged by Israel00:28 | Fouad01/01/09
      23.   Hams vs Alqaida00:31 | Confused01/01/09
      24.   Gaza a fertile ground for extrimists00:31 | Abu Yusef01/01/09
      25.   Terror is coming closer to all of us00:38 | V01/01/09
      26.   Don`t rejoice yet children00:39 | BDF01/01/09
      27.   Fouad forgot to mention00:50 | Rory01/01/09
      28.   I agree with #1000:51 | Ahmed Habib01/01/09
      29.   This scares fatah and israel more than anyone00:17 | chilem01/01/09
      30.   #900:21 | Jane01/01/09
      31.   To Fouad00:13 | Nechama01/01/09
      32.   Fouad - Yes, Right and Jews Run the World00:24 | Jane01/01/09
      33.   Pure 15th century Islamic Emirate could be the perfect solution!00:27 | Dr. L. Brnd01/01/09
      34.   Fouad - Israel affiliated with Al-Qaida?00:29 | Gil01/01/09
      35.   Just amazing how they blame Israel!00:29 | RfaelMoshe01/01/09
      36.   Thanks Fouad, how do u know so much???00:33 | Massoud Levy01/01/09
      37.   Go Hamas! Go Radicals. May both groups lose.00:20 | 4:2001/01/09
      38.   It is such a shame to see brothers fighting.00:16 | Murray of Montreal01/01/09
      39.   #15 Fouad......why are you in Germany00:17 | Lynn01/01/09
      40.   A Pack Of Rabid Dogs00:18 | Bill Foonman01/01/09
      41.   #15 Fouad00:33 | Good01/01/09
      42.   Fouad00:03 | Simon01/01/09
      43.   response to everyone!!!00:03 | JD01/01/09
      44.   now let`s give them a state00:12 | danny01/01/09
      45.   Georges #9: where``s the complexity in this issue, Georges?00:15 | ivo01/01/09
      46.   Fouad #15: there are many ways to make a complete fool of oneself00:37 | ivo01/01/09
      47.   Hams and Islamic Emirate people kills each other and they are all00:43 | 1701/01/09
      48.   Hamastan and Thuggery00:43 | Brod01/01/09
      49.   Indonesian - Book of Joshua describe events00:56 | 1701/01/09
      50.   Who Gets To Be The Emir?00:06 | Jeff Northridge01/01/09
      51.   1500:38 | gilad01/01/09
      52.   #15 Fouad: Being So Naive In The West Is Inexcusable00:02 | Lavi01/01/09
      53.   Take over?00:47 | LiaD`ELana01/01/09
      54.   It may not be such bad news on the grand scheme of things00:56 | Darth Zaider (Ed)01/01/09
      55.   #2 but cipora, you make a very clear distinction here...00:07 | eric01/01/09
      56.   A small copycat of the anihilation of Hama by Syria00:09 | Joe01/01/09
      57.   Hamas vs Al Qaeda00:54 | Leeguy01/01/09
      58.   RfaelMoshe and others.....00:55 | john Spear01/01/09
      59.   #55, eric, wrong00:08 | Cipora Julianna Kohn01/01/09
      60.   you reap what you sow00:14 | von blucher01/01/09
      61.   I bet BS News is twisting his head to find a way to blame Israel00:45 | Dan01/01/09
      62.   making peace00:47 | iranian jew01/01/09
      63.   More Israeli war crime, send the UN to blame Israel & investigate00:50 | BS Nutali01/01/09
      64.   #5700:55 | iranian jew01/01/09
      65.   How did AlQaeda get by Israeli guards??00:57 | gly01/01/09
      66.   Dancin` in the Street00:05 | Mark of Lewiston01/01/09
      67.   Stop the violence00:11 | Moshe01/01/09
      68.   Sounds like00:41 | alan the real one01/01/09
      69.   Dan in Haifa, just as an aside, my name is Michael Hess...00:06 | BBSNews01/01/09
      70.   This infighting & bloodshed can be traced to Israel `s doorstep00:10 | Dutch01/01/09
      71.   Akerican#18, Kook is certainly a-light-unto-the-settlers...00:31 | Esther01/01/09
      72.   good00:32 | alex01/01/09
      73.   # 59 no cipora, i am right00:48 | eric01/01/09
      74.   Fouad #22... getting into Gaza from Sinai is simple...00:52 | Esther01/01/09
      75.   hamas clash with "radicals"00:24 | tiki01/01/09
      76.   Palestine`s liberation is for Palestinians, NOT foreigners!00:31 | Yitzak Yasu` Muhamad01/01/09
      77.   Israel is the root cause of tensions between Palestinian groups..00:52 | Dutch01/01/09
      78.   War against terrorism.00:53 | B. Gold01/01/09
      79.   A Question to Mark of Lewiston00:58 | Tzfonit01/01/09
      80.   The far left : Hamas, Hezbola are partner for talks .00:48 | Joseph .E01/01/09
      81.   NO CONDEMNATION OF THE VIOLENCE?00:17 | FOX01/01/09
      82.   Hamas00:22 | fredyr01/01/09
      83.   and the Israeli thought there can`t be anything worse than Hamas00:30 | Kris Lazar01/01/09
      84.   Hamas Massacre00:31 | Kevin01/01/09
      85.   BBS You want reality? get some clips for Al Aqsa Hamas TV00:33 | PETER SM01/01/09
      86.   #4300:34 | flora01/01/09
      87.   HAMAS has unlike Israel00:37 | Stephanie Flowers01/01/09
      88.   What`s the difference eric #73 between Hamas and Al Qaeda?00:41 | S01/01/09
      89.   #6000:44 | flora01/01/09
      90.   I wish them a long and successful fight!00:52 | hahaha Poor Pals01/01/09
      91.   Fouad forgot to mention00:52 | Pal01/01/09
      92.   does anyone else see a pattern here?00:58 | gabriel01/01/09
      93.   Re:Now let;s give them a state00:01 | George01/01/09
      94.   extremists00:23 | extremists love it01/01/09
      95.   Where is Chris Linthwaite now?00:54 | reality check01/01/09
      96.   Look at the picture - he has the mark of the devil00:57 | Johnny01/01/09
      97.   to Michael Hess aka (BS News)00:07 | reality check01/01/09
      98.   Hamas00:14 | Gershon Ron01/01/09
      99.   Hamas did what any soveriegn govt. would have00:25 | chilem01/01/09
      100.   hamas killed al quaida00:37 | Rabin01/01/09
      101.   Outrageous. He was a civilian00:53 | 1701/01/09
      102.   How about some outrage, BBS, maureen, durson00:56 | jj01/01/09
      103.   George, send your posting to the native Indians00:57 | dovale01/01/09
      104.   #87 this is why Hamas has already sent troops to Latin America00:13 | Genuine Tosefta01/01/09
      105.   Is Hamas fighting Al Qaida to gain world sympathy00:17 | Meo01/01/09
      106.   The only thing missing.....00:31 | Christopher01/01/09
      107.   and Kris Lazar from Turkish Bazaar has always believed that Hams00:33 | Genuine Tosefta01/01/09
      108.   The enemy of my enemy is my friend00:39 | Steve01/01/09
      109.   KEVIN WHO THINK HAMAS is shows its a force for peace@84I Say00:48 | Zionist Jew01/01/09
      110.   RABIN @ 94 Hamas killed al qaida..00:52 | Zionist Jew01/01/09
      111.   Gaza you are right00:12 | Joshua01/01/09
      112.   Dutch- you know nothing.....00:13 | Arnold01/01/09
      113.   Is Hamas fighting Al Qaida to gain world sympathy00:24 | Meo01/01/09
      114.   #98 Hamas did what any self respecting Mafia would have00:28 | Genuine Toseftat01/01/09
      115.   #76 you forgot another invasion!00:37 | Reuben Jacobs01/01/09
      116.   and Kris Lazar from Turkish Bazaar has always believed that Hams00:39 | Genuine Tosefta01/01/09
      117.   Re: #6000:54 | Christopher01/01/09
      118.   hamas attacked a mosque!!!! where are the outcries???00:55 | scallywag01/01/09
      119.   B. Hussein will have a beer with both sides00:55 | Genuine Tosefta01/01/09
      120.   From The Frying Pan of Gaza To The Fires Of Gehenna!00:59 | Lavi01/01/09
      121.   Gee, They Took Over A Mosque Which Was00:29 | Eli01/01/09
      122.   Gabriel00:13 | Leo01/01/09
      123.   I wish then both the success...00:34 | Lev01/01/09
      124.   79 Tzfonit - A Question of Control00:47 | Mark of Lewiston01/01/09
      125.   You should praise Hamas for kicking Al Qaeda ass...00:51 | BBSNews01/01/09
      126.   Wow, some of the right-wingers here are going as far.....00:57 | Swiss (Dino)01/01/09
      127.   We all really have to grow up00:15 | H01/01/09
      128.   Al-Qaida & Israel00:39 | palestinian01/01/09
      129.   #12300:54 | Leo01/01/09
      130.   #56-Joe - "peaceful democratic means."00:12 | Roger01/01/09
      131.   # 3 Jane, Hasn`t Bradley Burston already done that?00:26 | LOL01/01/09
      132.   MAYBE NOW GILAD CAN BE RELEASED!?00:29 | Pray without ceasing01/01/09
      133.   indonesian, #1600:24 | scallywag01/01/09
      134.   american living here - you mean expulsion...00:26 | scallywag01/01/09
      135.   # 88 actually "S", why not try "ideology and goals"00:58 | eric01/01/09
      136.   125 BBS news00:14 | john Spear01/01/09
      137.   #135, eric00:00 | Cipora Julianna Kohn01/01/09
      138.   # 137 not the issue, cipora00:46 | eric01/01/09
      139.   bbsnews - 2. try00:36 | scallywag01/01/09
      140.   bbs n Thinks Hamas should be praised.@12500:36 | Jasmine01/01/09
      141.   Something sounds fishy?!?!?!00:30 | Robert Lang01/01/09
      142.   Rory.. forgot to mention00:11 | Fouad01/01/09
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