ISIS vs HAMAS in Gaza

[cosmicalstorm]

Gaza is about to go even nastier than before. Or is this simply Israeli alarmist bunk?

ISIS Supporters to Hamas: Leave Us Alone or Else!

Following a crackdown on Islamic State (ISIS) supporters in the Gaza Strip, ISIS issued a warning to Hamas, which controls the region: you have 48 hours to leave us alone, or else!

The Associated Press reported Tuesday that Salafi-jihadists in Gaza issued the threat via Middle East media, though they did not specify what would happen if Hamas refused to comply. Tensions between the two groups have been on the rise since Hamas destroyed a mosque associated with a group called “Supporters of the Islamic State in Jerusalem” May 3, in response to a series of unclaimed bombings in the Strip.

In a statement reported by the Egyptian daily newspaper Al-Masry al-Youm, the Salafists accused Hamas of demolishing the structure “in a manner that even the Jewish and American occupation has not done.”

“In the light of Hamas’ new crackdown, we renew our loyalty to [ISIS Caliph Abu Bakr] al-Baghdadi and call on him to strengthen his influence and to launch a campaign in Palestine,” read the statement from Supporters of the Islamic State in Jerusalem. The group went on to threaten the lives of Hamas members – even publishing some of their names and photos – unless Hamas releases several men, including a local Salafi sheikh.

The ISIS supporters also claimed responsibility for a rocket fired at Israel, which a Hamas source said was “against the interests of the Palestinian factions in the Gaza Strip and against our national interests.” The source told Ynet, “We consider the rocket fire to be a dangerous thing.” The source said the parties responsible had been arrested.

The IDF said the rocket, which was fired last Tuesday evening, landed near Gan Yavne in southern Israel.

Dozens of the Salafists have been arrested, with one local leader, Younis al-Honnor, 27, being killed in a shootout as security forces tried to apprehend him. Ynet cited the Gaza Interior Ministry, who said al-Honnor had booby-trapped his house, and that “explosive belts, explosive devices and rifle-propelled grenades were found inside”.

A statement made on a pro-Salafist website disputed the official account. “The Hamas leadership bears responsibility for this deplorable crime,” the statement said.

ISIS and its supporters consider Hamas too liberal. They want to enforce stricter adherence to Islamic law and believe Hamas is soft on Israel.

Read more at http://www.breakingisraelnews.com/42067 ... 6XWrrhS.99

[Borgholio]

If this is true, I can see ISIS being in for a rude surprise. Neither Israel or Hamas is known for restraint when you start bombing them. With the tactics ISIS uses, they will be quick to draw unwanted attention.

[Thanas]

Yeah, I don't believe this for a bit.

[Simon_Jester]

I'm not saying I believe it, but this one actually wouldn't surprise me. Da'esh* HAS been trying to horn in on the territory of other fundamentalist groups, and Gaza has no officially recognized government for them to overthrow, so if they can organize well enough they might well imagine that they can simply replace Hamas as top dog. In which case they get bonus points among their supporters for Gloriously Keeping Up The Fight Against The Demonic Zionists.

Da'esh doesn't lack for ambition, that much is quite clear.

*I checked this with a friend who's been tracking the Syrian Civil War closely for four years; they hate it when you call them that.

[Rogue 9]

Younis al-Honnor being killed in a shootout with Hamas police was reported by NPR a couple of days ago, at least.

[Purple]

A part of me wants it to be real simply because if ISIS went after israel than the west and especially america would have no politically viable choice but to respond in force. I am not sure I am comfortable with that realization though.

[Sea Skimmer]

The Israelis can handle anything ISIL can do, all the more so now that those Hezbollah freedom fighters are all busy fighting to keep Assad in power.

Actually far more interesting is what implications this has for Egypt, the army of which utterly hates Hamas, but also has ISIL active in the Sinai insurgency, which is also where Hamas gets its weapons from Iran via. Though Iran isnt' too fond of Hamas either because Hamas is against the Assad regime for minor things like its starvation blockade and mass bombing of the Yarmouk refugee camp near Damascus. Oh and that camp, with its much reduced present population, became ISIL territory just a few months ago. If Gaza became an ISIL base that would mean Egypt might go dramatically further attempting to isolate it. The crackdown on the smuggling tunnels has already been much more effective in the past year then any prior actions, but they could always go further.

[Highlord Laan]

A part of me wants it to be real simply because if ISIS went after israel than the west and especially america would have no politically viable choice but to respond in force. I am not sure I am comfortable with that realization though.

If ISIL decides to pick a fight with Israel, all the US has to do is stand back and watch the ultraviolence. Israel gives zero shits of they piss off the rest of the area more than they already do, and are perfectly capable of butchering the subhuman barbarians wherever they decide to blight their betters. Hell, I can see killing off Gaza's ISIL infestation making the IDF and Hamas actually work together on a project, even if only for a little while. What better way to being a people together than killing off another that's hated by both?

[The Romulan Republic]

Except that Israel is sufficiently hated, especially in that part of the world, that if they are fighting ISIS it might actually help ISIS get more support/recruits. And Israeli involvement, especially if it involves atrocities, may turn the local Muslim allies we're relying on to fight ISIS against us.

Edit: That said, Israel's military is doubtlessly capable of crushing ISIS. The problem is how many civilians they're likely to kill in the process, but that's always a problem with war to some extent.

[Knife]

I honestly don't know, is Gaza Sunni? Are the Palestinians and even Lebanon Sunni? I get that ISIL, in that the L, is Lebanon, but are the actual inhabitants of Lebanon OK with that now-a-days?

[Imperial528]

Minor nitpick, Knife: the "L" is for the Levant.

[The Romulan Republic]

Hamas is Sunni while Hezbollah (powerful in Lebanon) is Shiite.

[Ace Pace]

It's a bit more complicated than that.

Hamas is Sunni, but ideologically isolated since as a Muslim Brotherhood offshoot, Egypt currently hates it.
Lebanon is not Shiite or Sunni, but a complex mix with multiple tribal factions. Hezbollah is the dominent Shiite faction but that doesn't mean Lebanese civilians are okay with it.

[Ralin]

*I checked this with a friend who's been tracking the Syrian Civil War closely for four years; they hate it when you call them that.

Why? I assume it's funny in a language I don't know, because the only reason I can see why that would piss them off is if you called them Rainbow Daesh

[Terralthra]

It's similar to the Arabic word for "one who sows discord" or "one who crushes underfoot". It'd be like if the acronym for the some Tea Party thing was "DKBAG" or something. In one sense, it's just the acronym for ISIL/ISIS in Arabic: Dawlat (al-) Islāmiyya ‘Irāq Shām, but it's also an insult.

[cmdrjones]

It's similar to the Arabic word for "one who sows discord" or "one who crushes underfoot". It'd be like if the acronym for the some Tea Party thing was "DKBAG" or something. In one sense, it's just the acronym for ISIL/ISIS in Arabic: Dawlat (al-) Islāmiyya ‘Irāq Shām, but it's also an insult.

"Democratic Korps (of those who are) Beneficently Anti-Government"

What do you think?

[Sea Skimmer]

It's a bit more complicated than that.

Hamas is Sunni, but ideologically isolated since as a Muslim Brotherhood offshoot, Egypt currently hates it.
Lebanon is not Shiite or Sunni, but a complex mix with multiple tribal factions. Hezbollah is the dominent Shiite faction but that doesn't mean Lebanese civilians are okay with it.

Indeed the whole reason Hezbollah is so well armed and visible is that in the end they are a real minority in the country. As far as they are concerned if they didn't stay so armed and organized they'd risk being wiped out were the civil war to restart. Opposing the Israelis is in the end always going to be secondary to that, and supporting Assad is from there viewpoint a matter of life and death. It doesn't matter if 75% of Syria is held by other people, they need the strategic depth along the coast they can get out of this so they cannot be easily isolated in Lebanon.

[cmdrjones]

It's a bit more complicated than that.

Hamas is Sunni, but ideologically isolated since as a Muslim Brotherhood offshoot, Egypt currently hates it.
Lebanon is not Shiite or Sunni, but a complex mix with multiple tribal factions. Hezbollah is the dominent Shiite faction but that doesn't mean Lebanese civilians are okay with it.

Indeed the whole reason Hezbollah is so well armed and visible is that in the end they are a real minority in the country. As far as they are concerned if they didn't stay so armed and organized they'd risk being wiped out were the civil war to restart. Opposing the Israelis is in the end always going to be secondary to that, and supporting Assad is from there viewpoint a matter of life and death. It doesn't matter if 75% of Syria is held by other people, they need the strategic depth along the coast they can get out of this so they cannot be easily isolated in Lebanon.

Another factor here is that Hamas, being Sunni, is and always will be a prime target for ISIS, even moreso than Hezbollah. The destruction of Hezbollah will eliminate a group of apostates (according to ISIS) and give them control of large parts of Syria and Lebanon, but the destruction of Hamas, in addition to the territories hamas Controls (Part of the west bank and gaza etc) the real victory would be the elimination of a competitor for the allegiance of the worlds sunni muslims as a whole. ISIS would rather have the vast majortiy of palestinians under its banner than kill the last bastion of shiites and druze in syria and lebanon.
They think long term.

[Rogue 9]

It's a bit more complicated than that.

Hamas is Sunni, but ideologically isolated since as a Muslim Brotherhood offshoot, Egypt currently hates it.
Lebanon is not Shiite or Sunni, but a complex mix with multiple tribal factions. Hezbollah is the dominent Shiite faction but that doesn't mean Lebanese civilians are okay with it.

Indeed the whole reason Hezbollah is so well armed and visible is that in the end they are a real minority in the country. As far as they are concerned if they didn't stay so armed and organized they'd risk being wiped out were the civil war to restart. Opposing the Israelis is in the end always going to be secondary to that, and supporting Assad is from there viewpoint a matter of life and death. It doesn't matter if 75% of Syria is held by other people, they need the strategic depth along the coast they can get out of this so they cannot be easily isolated in Lebanon.

Another factor here is that Hamas, being Sunni, is and always will be a prime target for ISIS, even moreso than Hezbollah. The destruction of Hezbollah will eliminate a group of apostates (according to ISIS) and give them control of large parts of Syria and Lebanon, but the destruction of Hamas, in addition to the territories hamas Controls (Part of the west bank and gaza etc) the real victory would be the elimination of a competitor for the allegiance of the worlds sunni muslims as a whole. ISIS would rather have the vast majortiy of palestinians under its banner than kill the last bastion of shiites and druze in syria and lebanon.
They think long term.

Da'esh is itself a Sunni organization.

[cmdrjones]

Da'esh is itself a Sunni organization.

Nah Da'esh is the ONLY Sunni organization.... according to them.

[KroLazuxy_87]

Where does Saudi Arabia stand on all this? I know they've got one of the largest militaries in the area and could lay some serious hurt on ISIS - especially if they were being further supplied by western powers that didn't want to play in the sand again. **cough-U.S.-cough**

[The Vortex Empire]

Da'esh is itself a Sunni organization.

Exactly, which means Hamas competes with them for Sunni recruits in Palestine.

[Spice Runner]

Where does Saudi Arabia stand on all this? I know they've got one of the largest militaries in the area and could lay some serious hurt on ISIS - especially if they were being further supplied by western powers that didn't want to play in the sand again. **cough-U.S.-cough**

The Saudis really don't like Bashar Assad nor do they feel comfortable with Iran's sock puppets in the region. They have joined the U.S. coalition to bomb ISIS since they do realize that the Saudi regime is high up on ISIS hit list.