ISIS Threat In Gaza Turns Hamas Into A Counterterrorism Player For Israel And Egypt

The scene earlier this month in the Gaza Strip was unusual to say the least: Hamas, the hardcore Sunni Muslim group ruling the Gaza Strip, was bulldozing a Sunni mosque in the heart of Gaza. The mosque was believed to be a base for fighters belonging to a new group called Supporters of the Islamic State in Jerusalem, an affiliate of ISIS, which Hamas sees as a rival and a dangerous influence in the region. That fear has led to a development unthinkable just a few months ago: Hamas and Israel are working toward the same goal.

 

Almost a year since Hamas and Israel faced off in Gaza last summer, the two now face a common enemy — the Gaza-based militants who have rebranded under the black and white flag of the ISIS. The rise of those extremists in Gaza is now threatening neighboring countries like Israel and Egypt, and giving Hamas, officially the enemy of Egypt and the sworn foe of Israel, leverage as the one entity that can stop ISIS from building a dangerous foothold between the two countries.

 

During the mosque raid, Hamas also arrested several members of Ansar Bayt al-Maqdis, an Egyptian militant group that last year became ISIS’ first branch outside of Iraq and Syria, underscoring how the threat of a rising ISIS in Gaza is directed toward Egypt, not just Israel.

 

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