Supporters of Salafi jihadists in the Gaza Strip held a demonstration in Gaza City today to protest Hamas’ “continued violations” against Salafi jihadists in Gaza. The latest violation, according to a statement announcing the protest, is the arrest and alleged torture of Sheikh Hussein al Jo’ayteni.
Al Jo’ayteni was arrested on June 11 by Hamas forces, according to the Ibn Taymiyyah Media Center (ITMC), a jihadist media unit tied to the Mujahideen Shura Council in the Environs of Jerusalem. In recent days, Salafi jihadist Facebook pages and media units, such as the ITMC, have alleged that al Jo’ayteni has been tortured in Hamas’ prisons. According to the ITMC, Hamas is torturing al Jo’ayteni “day and night” in order to obtain information from him regarding Salafist groups in the Gaza Strip.
Those who attended today’s protest called on Hamas to immediately release imprisoned Salafists. The protesters also called on Hamas to stop its campaign against Salafi jihadists. According to press reports, Hamas security forces prevented journalists from covering the event and in some cases confiscated cameras.
Thursday’s protest is the third of its kind in recent months and comes two days after the ITMC released a video of jihadists in Syria demanding that Hamas end its campaign against Salafi jihadists in Gaza. Today’s protest was promoted by a Facebook page recently opened for relatives and friends of Salafi jihadists currently imprisoned by Hamas.
On April 28, a protest against Hamas promoted by the same Facebook group was held in Gaza City. While most in attendance held handmade signs condemning Hamas and calling for the release of their family members, others were seen holding al Qaeda’s black flag, which was first used by al Qaeda in Iraq but has been adopted by other al Qaeda affiliates.
On April 6, the group had organized another protest in Rafah against Hamas. According to press reports, approximately 30 people partook in the demonstration before Hamas security forces dispersed it.
Tensions between Hamas and the Salafi jihadists in Gaza have increased in recent weeks after a lull in late May. According to Abu al Ayna al Ansari, a Salafi jihadist leader in the Gaza Strip, well-known Islamic personalities from the Gulf, including Qatar and Kuwait, are mediating discussions between Hamas and Salafi jihadists.
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1 Comment
How quaint murder & intrigue betwixt like minded ideologues. Lenin, Stalin & Trotsky would be lovin ‘this’ if they were around.