Palestinian Army of Islam
| Army of Islam جَيش الإسلام Jaysh al-Islām |
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|---|---|
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| Leader(s) | Mumtaz Dughmush |
| Dates of operation | 2006–present |
| Motives | The creation of an Islamic state in Palestine |
| Active region(s) | Gaza Strip, Egypt |
| Ideology |
Salafism Jihadism Sunni Islamism |
| Status | Designated as a Terrorist Organization by the UAE and the United States |
Army of Islam (Arabic: جَيش الإسلام Jaysh al-Islām) is the name used by the Doghmush Hamula (clan) for their Islamic militant activities. It is located at the Tzabra neighborhood in the center of the Gaza Strip bordered by Israel and Egypt. The group has been designated as a terrorist organization by the UAE and the United States.
The capture of Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit and the kidnapping of BBC reporter Alan Johnston, Army of Islam, which appears to draw inspiration from, or is linked to, al-Qaeda, have also conducted at least one bombing of a Palestinian civilian target (an empty school) and a number of other kidnappings. The group had been previously closely related to Hamas, it has since been shunned by both Hamas and Fatah. The group has also been known as The Organization of jihad in Palestine and is linked to Abu Qatada, the British-based Palestinian-Jordanian extremist Sheikh who they demanded be released in exchange for Johnston. It is involved with other Major Islamic Political Alliances.
On 3 November 2010 senior Army of Islam leader Mohammad Namnam was killed in a targeted killing when the car he was driving in Gaza City was hit by a missile fired from an Israeli military helicopter. Israel killed Namnam after Egyptian authorities reportedly tipped-off Israel that Namnam was helping plan a future attack on multinational security forces in Sinai. Following the November 3 air strike, the Israeli Air Force killed two other members of the group. Mohammed and Islam Yassif were killed in an air strike, fired from an unmanned drone, on 17 November 2010. The attack, coordinated with Israeli security services, Shin Bet, came around dawn on a busy street in Gaza City, and cited the same security issues as that in the killing of Namnam.
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