GAZA CITY — Militants have been paid to form cells for Al Qaida in the Gaza Strip, Palestinian sources said. The Hamas and Islamic Jihad operatives have also formed a propaganda network for Al Qaida and distributed
statements and leaflets, they said.
Meanwhile, Israeli military intelligence chief Maj. Gen. Aharon Zeevi-Farkash said in an interview that at
least 10 Al Qaida operatives entered Gaza from the Sinai Peninsula in wake
of Israel's withdrawal from the border area on Sept. 12.
"We know of around 10 global jihad operatives who infiltrated into Gaza
from the Sinai during the Philadelphi [Gaza-Egypt border] episode,"
Zeevi-Farkash told the Israeli daily Maariv. "There is a potential here for
the beginning of an Al Qaida infrastructure in Gaza.
Over the last year, Al Qaida has paid increasing attention to the
Israel-Palestinian conflict, Middle East Newsline reported. The movement has launched an Internet-based
television channel critical of PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas.
In mid-October, the operatives distributed a leaflet in Khan Yunis by Al
Qaida's so-called Palestine Branch. The leaflet issued by "Al Qaida of Jihad
in Palestine" called on Muslims to unite in an Islamic state.
"Our efforts are now focused on establishing a strong and unified Muslim
nation where love prevails among all its members," the leaflet said.
In September 2005, Al Qaida claimed responsibility for mortar and rocket
attacks on evacuated Israeli communities in the Gaza Strip. Al Qaida
released a videotape that showed three masked gunmen who had purportedly
conducted strikes against Israel.
"We stress that this attack comes in the context of the Islamic jihad
launched by our comrades in Al Qaida," the masked men said in video.
The sources said Hamas and Jihad operatives have spread Al Qaida
ideology in the Gaza Strip. They said the operatives were also recruiting
young Palestinians for future operations.
