Hamas Islamists ruling Gaza are being challenged: In recent weeks, al-Qaeda-inspired Palestinian groups have stepped up their ongoing anti-Hamas campaign, launching bombing attacks on Hamas security men and offices.
According to Reuters and AP reports, sources close to Salafi groups said uber-fundamentalists set off three bombs in the Beach refugee camp last week near the heavily guarded home of Hamas Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh. The bombs were intended to convince Haniyeh to stop trying to arrest members of the anti-Hamas groups. Interestingly, the wire services reported that the bombs were placed by sympathizers among Haniyeh’s own guards. And, earlier this week, someone placed a bomb under the car of a top Hamas police officer in Gaza.
The attacks have been going on for months: In January, a bomb destroyed a senior security official’s jeep in Gaza. Last month, a senior Hamas commander in Rafah escaped injury in a bomb blast. The Salafis told wire services that the two officers were involved in “killing and torturing” Islamist fighters, which probably means that they were involved in Hamas’ clamp-down on the groups.
While “Salafi” may not be a familiar term to most Americans, it’s the branch of Islam that is commonly referred to as “Wahhabi” — frequently identified with Osama bin Laden and al-Qaeda. Interestingly, the tensions between the two groups seems to stem from the Salafi criticism that Hamas is too moderate. Apparently, re-introducing crucifixion as a legal penalty and raining thousands of missiles onto Israeli civilians don’t count for much.
Like we’ve said before, it pays to remember that Israel lives in one nasty neighborhood.
What do you think?