Masada al Mujahideen says Hamas is responsible for death of top Salafi leader, threatens attacks

Masada al Mujahideen has threatened to carry out attacks against Israel and Hamas in response to the assassination of Abu al Walid al Maqdisi, the former emir of the Tawhid and Jihad Group in Jerusalem. Al Maqdisi was released by Hamas in early August, and received congratulations from Masada al Mujahideen at the time.

Masada al Mujahideen released its latest statement, titled “Important Statement to the Islamic Ummah and the Palestinian People about the Martyrdom of the Mujahid, Sheikh, Scholar, the Commander of the Tawhid Group,” on jihadist forums on Oct. 14. The statement was obtained and translated by the SITE Intelligence Group.

In the statement, Masada al Mujahideen said that Hamas was responsible for the death of al Maqdisi and that Hamas “has become the loyal agent and a quicker executor than its predecessors of the orders of the occupation.” The group threatened to make Hamas pay “dearly for these foolish, heinous crimes, but at the time we find suitable, whether it’s sooner or later, and we will do it.”

While the bulk of the statement was directed at Hamas, it concluded with a “message to the Jews.” “[T]he war between us and them is long and ongoing, and the more they continue targeting the mujahideen leaders, the more oil they pour over the fire, like someone digging his grave with his own hands,” the group said.

Masada al Mujahideen

Masada al Mujahideen announced its formation in April 2008 and said its leader is Abu Omar al Ansari, according to SITE. The terror group has claimed numerous attacks against Israel, including rocket and mortar attacks. The group has also claimed credit for setting numerous fires inside Israel, and even an arson attack in Nevada.

Masada al Mujahideen also eulogized Osama bin Laden immediately after he was killed by US Navy SEALs in Abbottabad, Pakistan, in May 2011. “Although Sheikh Osama has been killed, his creed will not be killed, and the whole Ummah, Allah willing, is Osama bin Laden. We do not say that as hyperbole, for you see with your own eyes and acknowledge with your own mouths that most of the jihadi groups in the world have come to follow his example, method and creed,” the group said in a statement that was translated by SITE.

Masada al Mujahideen also eulogized Atiyah Abd al Rahman, a top al Qaeda leader who was killed in a US drone strike in North Waziristan, Pakistan, in August 2011. “He was truly one of the well-known people of jihad and a bright star in the sky of knowledge,” the group said in a statement translated by SITE.

Are you a dedicated reader of FDD's Long War Journal? Has our research benefitted you or your team over the years? Support our independent reporting and analysis today by considering a one-time or monthly donation. Thanks for reading! You can make a tax-deductible donation here.

Tags: , ,

1 Comment

Iraq

Islamic state

Syria

Aqap

Al shabaab

Boko Haram

Isis