Army of Islam (Gaza Strip)

Jaish al -Islam (Arabic جيش الإسلام, DMG Ǧaiš al - Islām, Army of Islam ') is a radical, militant Palestinian organization, whose goals and motivations, very little is known.

The Group pursues the objectives of the holy war, jihad. It is associated with the Palestinian family clan Dughmusch; whose head indicates, however, that the members of his clan are also members of al - Fatah, Hamas and the Popular Resistance Committees. The grouping is according to the clan leader Mumtaz Dughmusch also from fighters who do not belong to his clan.

In June 2006, activists of this group were involved in the kidnapping of Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit, the Israel on the occasion of his Operation Summer Rains took mentioned attacks on Gaza. At the action, were killed in the two other soldiers of Tzahal, also militants of al -Aqsa Martyrs Brigades and the Islamic Jihad said to have been involved. The grouping Army of Islam had been previously completely unknown. Abu Muthana is performed in public for this group.

The group is also behind kidnapping and hostage of BBC journalist Alan Johnston in April 2007. Reports from Israel on 21 March, the group was responsible for the disappearance of the reporter, had denied the group, but on 9 May 2007 sent the grouping a videotape to Al -Jazeera, the Johnston shows, and also demanded the release of Muslim prisoners in the United Kingdom, in particular the incarcerated in British extradition of Abu Qatada, the face deportation to Syria.

After the takeover of power in Gaza, Hamas has demanded the release of Alan Johnston and issued an ultimatum. Hamas accused the group also to sympathize with Mohammed Dahlan, the leader of al - Fatah in the Gaza Strip; but this was rejected by the clan leader of the Dughmuschs. On 4 July 2007 Johnston was finally released by his captors and handed over to Hamas.

The Egyptian Ministry of Interior described the group as being responsible for the terrorist attack on 1 January 2011 in Alexandria, but a spokesman for the organization has denied this.