According to reports arising from several Arabic online forums on the Internet, a new Palestinian global Jihad oriented group “Jahafil al-Tawhid wa-l-Jihad”[1] (The Unification and Jihad Legions) announced its inception, declaring the beginning of its operations in the Palestinian territories and especially in Gaza as of the beginning of November 2008. According to the first proclamation issued by the organization on its Arabic web site, the group claims to belong to Al-Qaeda by adopting the global Jihad ideology, practices and messages of bin-Laden and Ayman al-Zawahiri, claiming to continue the path of Abu Musab al-Zarqawi[2] and Abu Layth al-Libi[3]. The group has an online forum it claims to be its horn for messages propaganda and responsibility claims[4]. It should be noted that the groups’ poorly translated two messages into English, were probably initiated from an Arabic native speakers who intend to deliver their message to non-Arabic speakers and non-Muslims around the world to inform about its existence and objectives.
Appendix Proclamation no. 1 In the name of Allah the merciful and the beloved. Praise the Lord who glorifies Islam, who humiliates the participation in its surrender, and who directs matters according to his orders, and deceives the infidels with its ruses… We in the “Jahafil al-Tawhid wa-l-Jihad in Palestine” (the Unification and Jihad Legions in Palestine) declare before Allah and the entire Islamic world our oath first and foremost to Allah, and afterwards to the “Jahafil al-Tawhid wa-l-Jihad” organization belonging to the Al-Qaeda organization in any framework in every place. We at the “Jahafil al-Tawhid wa-l-Jihad in Palestine” organization embrace the messages of Sheikh Osama bin Laden and his beloved nephew Sheikh Dr. Ayman al- Zawahiri, god save them from the workers of the cross and their protégées, and take into account the ways of our beloved (late) brothers Abu Musab al-Zarqawi and Abu Layth al-Libi, Allah’s mercy upon them, and the way of those longing and yearning for Jihad. Allah has acted to guide his awliyya (allies) and lead them in the path of Salafist Jihad so that the “Jahafil al-Tawhid wa-l-Jihad in Palestine” organization will declare: a. Our best wishes to the Palestinian people for the entrance of the army of truth to their land in order to help Islam and its religion to establish the Islamic Caliphates. b. In honor of the establishment day of the Unification and Jihad Legions which overlaps the day when the cursed Balfour Declaration was given, we emphasize as we have emphasized before that the allies of the enablers will leave us, and if they do not do so our drawn swords will reach their throats even before the warning reaches them. c. We fulfill today the obligation of our Prophet towards the Jews, as said by the beloved and chosen one (Mohammad): “I wish I may live next year in order to take out the Jews from the Arab Peninsula”. And today is a day of victory for Mohammad, Allah’s prayer and peace be upon him. Finally, the Unification and Jihad Legions will indeed hoist the flag of uniqueness, as they are knocking on the gates of Jerusalem and its surroundings. The proclamation was published on November 1st 2008.[11] Proclamation no. 2
The Unification and Jihad Legions in Palestine. In the name of Allah the merciful and the beloved. Praise be the Lord ruler of worlds helping the weak and humiliating the arrogant usurpers, and to the matter at hand: “(to the believers) that war is being waged upon, the right to return the fight is given, because they are wronged. God may come to their aid”[12]. At exactly three o’clock at night one of our Jihad groups has launched 3 80 mm mortar bombs towards what is called the Kisufim settlement. The shooting was done in the framework of the natural and direct response for the crimes of the Israeli occupation within what is called the scenario of the American elections. The infidel sect is one and thus on the same basis the Sons of Judea (the Jews), the worshippers of the cross (the Christians) and whoever has an alliance with them. We would like to emphasize the following: a. Any violation on the part of the “Sons of Judea” (the Jews) will garner a response. b. We will protect this precious homeland and the sublime fortress of this glorious religion. We announce the death of our brother the Mujahideen who fell yesterday and ask they be considered martyrs. We do not praise anyone beyond what god knows of him. November 6th 2008.[13]
Notes: [1]The Arabic term "Jahafil" was translated to legions. [2] Al-Qaeda’s leader in Iraq, killed by the Coalition forces on June 2006. See: http://www.cfr.org/publication/9866 [3] A prominent Al-Qaeda member and spokesperson, killed in Pakistan on January 31st 2008. See: http://www.abcnews.go.com/Blotter/story?id=4222911&page=1 [4] http://www.nabd.khalij.co.cc/vb [5] http://www.nabd.khalij.co.cc/vb/showthread.php?t=154 [6] In its first proclamation, published on November 1st 2008, the group depicts itself as continuing and executing Mohammad’s wish to banish the Jews from the Arab Peninsula, the equivalent of which is Palestine. See the first proclamation in the appendix herein. [7] http://www.fatehforums.com/showthread.php?t=160013 [8] http://iiacome.blogspot.com/2008/11/blog-post_22.htm [9] “Jaljalat” Islamic idiom, taken from the ancient Islamic ethos and narratives. Posted on affiliated Al Qaeda web sites in a triumphal poem video clip in which “the Islamic peal will tremble the western world”. See Jaljalat Jihadi version “nasheed” (Islamic song). http://www.ummah.com/forum/showthread.php?t=107206.Also Islamic Jihad video clip ”Saraya Al Quds Jaljalat” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0EiXr2Rou3A&feature=related [10] Surah xiii. 13,14. [11] http://www.al-amanh.net/vb/showthread.php?t=2112 [12] The Al-Haj Sura, verse 39. According to Uri Rubin’s translation, the Koran. [13] http://www.oman0.net/forum/showthread.php?t=296697
Tawhid and Jihad Legions in Palestine: A New Global Jihad Oriented Organization in Gaza