Yesterday Hamas condemned the killing of Osama Bin Laden. While this may shock International Progressives, it doesn’t those of us who have studied Jihad. both Hamas founder, Sheikh Ahmed Yassin and Al-Qaeda’s Osama Bin Laden had the same mentor, Abdullah Azzam. In the 90’s Hamas was trained by Al-Qaeda in the Sudan and Afghanistan. Although they officially keep their distance from Al-Qaeda, behind the scenes they have ties. Both are offshoots of the Muslim Brotherhood and are Salafalist in doctrine. Their disagreement is who to fight. Al-Qaeda wants to fight a global Jihad, Hamas wants to focus on Israel first. But both want a Caliphate. They are Brothers and this fact needs to get out.
While most of the world celebrates the U.S. military operation that killed al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden in Pakistan, the sentiment is not unanimous. In the Gaza Strip, Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh has condemned the United States, accusing Washington of assassinating a “Muslim and Arabic warrior” and the “continuation of the American oppression and shedding of blood of Muslims and Arabs.”
Haniyeh’s reaction underscores the ideological roots Hamas and al Qaeda share: Hamas was founded by Sheikh Ahmed Yassin, a prominent Palestinian Muslim Brotherhood figure; al Qaeda was cofounded, along with bin Laden, by Abdullah Azzam, another prominent Palestinian Muslim Brotherhood figure.
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The operational ties were confirmed a decade later, when bin Laden reportedly sent emissaries to Hamas on two separate occasions (September 2000 and January 2001). While most analysts believe Hamas rejected al Qaeda’s offer to coordinate violence against Israel, it appears Hamas never closed the door. In 2002, the Washington Post quoted official U.S. government sources as confirming a loose alliance “between al-Qaeda, Hamas, and Hizbullah.”
Read the rest: The Hamas-al Qaeda Alliance
Hizb’Allah and Al-Qaeda have fought side by side on several occasions. In Bosnia the two organizations were on the verge of defeat at the hand of Serb forces until rescued by NATO/Croatian forces in Operation Storm. In 1996 they both did a combined attack on the Khobar Towers in Saudi Arabia. Members of Hizb’Allah have been killed in Pakistan meeting with Al-Qaeda and Taliban agents. In 2006 members of Al-Qaeda fought in South Lebanon on the side of Hizb’Allah against Israel. So if a 12ther Shiite and Salafalist Sunni group can work together, so could two Muslim Brotherhood based organizations.
The Hamas and Al-Qaeda connection needs to be mentioned to those seeking to force Israel to create a peace treaty with the Palestinians. Would America negotiate with a government that had members of Al-Qaeda in it? Well, we are helping them in Libya so maybe the Hamas links with AQ will not matter. Hamas and Al-Qaeda are ideological brothers in arms and this fact needs to get out!
Note: We will have a special Radio show on the killing of Bin Laden at 9:00 PM EST.
