Hamas wraps up operation against radical Gaza group

Ma'an
The “security operation” against Salafi group Jund Ansar Allah (Soldiers for God) in the southern Strip was “terminated” Saturday at noon following the confirmed slaying of the group’s leader by de facto Hamas government forces.

...22 were killed during the clashes, including one Hamas leader, six de facto police officers and six bystanders, two of which were young girls. Medics identified one of the girls as eight-year-old Shayma Jabir Al-Aloul.

Commenting on the incident Al-Ghuhessein stressed Jund Ansar Allah is a “group of individuals rather than an organization. They don’t have any contact with the outside world, their ideologies are perverted as they accused Gazan people of infidelity [to Islam], and carried out several attacks on cafés and wedding parties.”

Leader of Jund Ansar Allah was killed alongside one of his aides in a Rafah home following an overnight battle between the ultra-Islamist group and Hamas police, sources confirmed Saturday morning. At that point Hamas sources said they believed the group was neutralized by the death of the leader.

Calling Hamas too liberal, heavily armed militants with Jund Ansar Allah and hundreds of supporters took over a Rafah mosque following Friday prayers. The group declared the mosque, and the city of Rafah, an Islamic Emirate that would fall under theocratic rule.

According to Al-Ghuhessein Hamas clerics had contacted those affiliated with the group, seeking to “convert them to moderate Islam,” but they refused. He said when forces learned of the mosque takeover Friday afternoon authorities “tried to contact them and settle the issue peacefully,” but their militants opened fire at police officers provoking clashes. He confirmed the group was primarily based in Rafah.

According to Hamas authorities, Jund Ansar Allah is believed to have been responsible for recent café, salon and CD store bombings in the Gaza Strip...

... The group has ideological ties to Al-Qaeda, though no formal links were reported....

Among the organization's complaints against Hamas include its refusal to institute Islamic law on Palestinians in Gaza, as well as its ceasefire with Israel, which was declared unilaterally in mid-January. Full story