Former Israeli Ambassador to the UN Dr. Dore Gold says that Al-Qaeda’s influence is growing in Gaza. “In the West there is a growing trend to view Hamas as separate from al-Qaeda in order to open a political dialogue with Hamas, but is this view correct?” Gold made the remarks in a recent policy paper released by the Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs.
“In its annual survey of terrorist threats to Israel during 2009, the Israel Security Agency noted the spread and buildup of "global jihadi" organizations in Gaza. In recent years a number of these jihadi groups have emerged that openly identify with al-Qaeda, such as Jaish al-Islam (the Army of Islam), Jaish al-Umma (the Army of the Nation), and Fatah al-Islam.”