HAMAS-Iraq Launches 'Avenging Gaza' Campaign Against US Forces in Iraq

OSC: HAMAS-Iraq Launches 'Avenging Gaza' Campaign Against US Forces in Iraq

The USG Open Source Center summarizes and translates a posting on a jihadi web site of Iraqi guerrillas vowing to "avenge Gaza" by targeting American troops and the Iraqis that cooperate with them.

'HAMAS-Iraq Launches 'Avenging Gaza' Campaign Against US Forces in Iraq 19 Jan
Jihadist Websites -- OSC Summary
Thursday, January 24, 2008 . . .

Terrorism: HAMAS-Iraq Launches 'Avenging Gaza' Campaign Against US Forces 19 Jan On 19 January, a forum participant posted to a jihadist website a statement issued by the Al-Fatah al-Islami Command, the military wing of the Islamic Resistance Movement, HAMAS-Iraq, in which the group announced the launch of a one-week military campaign for 'avenging Gaza.' According to the group, the campaign targets the US Army. The statement was attributed to the Media Center of the Islamic Resistance Movement, HAMAS-Iraq.

A translation of the statement follows:

"In the Name of God the Merciful, the Compassionate.

"'Verily, We have granted thee a manifest Victory.' (Koranic verse, Al-Fath 48:1)

"Statement Number 134

"Week for Avenging Gaza

"As stated in the authenticated Hadith, the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, stated: 'Believers are supporting each other, like a structured building. Then, the Prophet, peace be upon him, crossed his fingers.' Ibn Kathir, may god enfold him in His mercy, stated: 'When God mentioned the notorious attributes of the hypocrites, He coupled that with mentioning the good attributes of the believers by saying: The Believers, men and women, are protectors one of another (Koranic verse, Al-Tawbah 9:71).' (Ibn Kathir's explanation of the Holy Koran; volume 2, page 370).

"Pursuant to these divine instructions, and due to the economic embargo and military aggression that are condoned by the American enemy and that our people are suffering in Gaza, the Al-Fatah al-Islami Command, the military wing of the Islamic Resistance Movement, HAMAS-Iraq, has decided to dedicate the current week to avenging Gaza. In this statement, the command calls on all military sectors to exert the maximum effort to inflict the heaviest casualties on the occupation and its quislings, considering the loss among the American enemy ranks a loss among the Zionist entity occupation forces.

"God is the Greatest. But honor belongs to Allah and His Messenger, and to the Believers; but the Hypocrites know not.' (partial Koranic verse, Al-Munafiqun 63:08)

"The Media Center

"Islamic Resistance Movement

"HAMAS-Iraq

"11 Muharram 1429, corresponding to 19 January 2008."

posted by Juan Cole @ 1/25/2008 06:02:00 AM