IS HAMAS TIED TO AL QAEDA? Maybe.

In March, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas warned that al Qaeda had infiltrated Gaza, and at least one prominent Arab newspaper echoed that claim.

The Egyptian government maintains that the attack on the Red Sea resort of Dahab in April 2006 was perpetrated by operatives who received weapons and explosives training in Gaza. The terrorists who struck Dahab belonged to Abu Musab Zarqawi's al-Tawhid wal-Jihad, which was later renamed al Qaeda in Mesopotamia.

While there is not strong evidence of ongoing coordinated operations between Hamas and al Qaeda, the two groups share similar theologies, worldviews and burning hatred for the United States. Dore Gold's latest book, "The Fight for Jerusalem," explores this budding alliance. The photo appendix also provides evidence, including a poster distributed by Hamas operatives with the images of both Hamas founder Sheikh Ahmed Yassin and Osama bin Laden. Then there's bin Laden loyalist Sheikh Abd al-Majid al-Zindani speaking at a March 2006 Hamas fund-raiser in Yemen.

Even with a connection, there will be those who claim that funding must be sent Gaza--for the sake of the Palestinians.
The Palestinian Arabs in Gaza may be the ultimate hostages.

Technorati Tag: Hamas and Al-Qaeda.