Al-Qaida : a challenge for Hamas?

This report explores to what extent the phenomenon of al-Qaida has made an impact on the Palestinian political scene, focusing on the situation in the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip, where a myriad of small groups claiming adherence to salafi-jihadi ideology has been established during the past few years. Three aspects of the relationship between the Palestinian polity and the global network of al-Qaida are discussed. First, the report reviews the attempts by al-Qaida leaders to influence the Palestinian audience by the means of propaganda transmitted in the media. Second, it investigates indications of operational activities by al-Qaida inspired groups in the Palestinian territories. Third, the report analyses how Hamas has responded to the challenge of al-Qaida and to what extent the ideology of the latter has influenced the policies of Hamas itself. The analysis is based on media reports, academic literature, and transcripts of messages posted by al-Qaida leaders and their Palestinian supporters on the Internet, as well as field work interviews with Hamas leaders, Palestinian politicians, academics and observers. The report argues that al-Qaida leaders have sought political influence among the Palestinians through an offensive propaganda campaign interfering in internal Palestinian matters, criticising Hamas for its moves towards political moderation. It is argued that the verbal campaign has been accompanied by moves to establish an operational foothold for al-Qaida in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Finally, the analysis maintains that al-Qaida’s verbal attacks and the emergence of armed salafi-jihadi groups in Gaza represent a real political challenge for Hamas, which has generally responded to the salafi-jihadi criticism in a defensive language, reflecting fears within Hamas of the receptiveness among the radical elements of the movement to the message of Osama bin Laden’s Palestinian followers.