Al-Qaida – a challenge for Hamas?

The report examines the relationship between the global al-Qaida network and the Palestinian polity, focusing on the Gaza Strip. It argues that al-Qaida has used an offensive propaganda campaign to criticize Hamas for political moderation and has attempted to establish an operational foothold in the region. While the report finds no hard evidence of a formal al-Qaida organization in the Palestinian territories, it notes the emergence of various salafi-jihadi groups that have engaged in violence against 'non-Islamic' targets, Christians, and foreigners. Hamas has generally responded defensively to these challenges, fearing that radical elements within its own movement may be receptive to al-Qaida's message, especially under the pressure of international isolation.

• Al-Qaida leaders have conducted a propaganda campaign to influence Palestinians, specifically criticizing Hamas for moving toward political moderation and participating in parliamentary elections.
• Public opinion polls indicate significant support for al-Qaida among Palestinians; a 2004 study found 70 percent of Palestinians viewed al-Qaida as a 'resistance movement', while a 2005 poll showed 65 percent supported al-Qaida bombing operations in the USA or Europe.
• Since 2006, salafi-jihadi violence in Gaza has expanded beyond targeting Israel to include attacks on symbols of 'immorality and decadence', such as Internet cafes, video shops, and a Christian bookstore.
• The kidnapping of foreigners became a new phenomenon in the Palestinian territories between 2004 and 2007, with the group Jaysh al-Islam (Army of Islam) notably holding BBC reporter Alan Johnston for 114 days.
• Hamas's military takeover of the Gaza Strip in June 2007 initially led to a decline in salafi-jihadi violence, though such activities re-emerged after several months.
• Fatah al-Islam in the Land of Ribat emerged in late 2007 as a well-organized group and was publicly recognized by Ayman al-Zawahiri as al-Qaida's preferred representative in Palestine.
• Hamas leaders express concern that international isolation and the boycott of their government may push members toward more extremist salafi-jihadi ideologies.
• There is no hard evidence of a formal, centralized al-Qaida organization within the Palestinian territories, despite the presence of individuals and fringe groups with salafi-jihadi sympathies.
• Al-Qaida has targeted Israeli and Jewish interests globally since 2002, including attacks in Tunisia, Kenya, Morocco, Turkey, and rocket attacks from Jordan and Lebanon into Israel.

APA

Hovdenak (2009). Al-Qaida – a challenge for Hamas? Peace Research Institute Oslo. https://cdn.cloud.prio.org/files/82a8653d-daf7-480e-8022-fbe8291f38db/Al-Qaida - A Challenge for Hamas.pdf?inline=true

Chicago

Hovdenak. Al-Qaida – a challenge for Hamas? Peace Research Institute Oslo, 2009. https://cdn.cloud.prio.org/files/82a8653d-daf7-480e-8022-fbe8291f38db/Al-Qaida - A Challenge for Hamas.pdf?inline=true.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Hovdenak |title=Al-Qaida – a challenge for Hamas? |publisher=Peace Research Institute Oslo |date=12 January 2009 |url=https://cdn.cloud.prio.org/files/82a8653d-daf7-480e-8022-fbe8291f38db/Al-Qaida - A Challenge for Hamas.pdf?inline=true |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{hovdenak2009alqaida, author = {Hovdenak}, title = {{Al-Qaida – a challenge for Hamas?}}, institution = {Peace Research Institute Oslo}, year = {2009}, month = jan, url = {https://cdn.cloud.prio.org/files/82a8653d-daf7-480e-8022-fbe8291f38db/Al-Qaida - A Challenge for Hamas.pdf?inline=true}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }