Many among the dozens of Islamic terrorists who have entered Gaza during the past year are Sunni Muslims who have taken part in the fighting against Allied forces in Iraq, according to a Tuesday report by Haaretz. Defense officials forecast a gradual increase in the flow of these terrorists to Gaza in advance of the expected American withdrawal from Iraq.
Israeli officials are of the opinion that Hamas views the new arrivals as a management problem since they are identified with even more extremist and uncompromising ideologies than Hamas and do not follow Hamas instructions. The months of relative quiet since Israel's Operation Cast Lead in Gaza this past winter have increased the number of those deserting Hamas in favor of the new Worldwide Jihad groups over Hamas's lack of success against Israel.