Army of Islam (Jaish al-Islam) 



Origins

The Army of Islam (hereinafter the “AI”) is a newly established armed group in the Gaza Strip. The June 2006 cross-border attack on the Israel Defence Forces that led to the kidnapping of soldier Gilad Shalit is among the first references to the group. Recently, it received wide media coverage due to the abduction of BBC correspondent Alan Johnston.  
AI’s members come mainly from the Dagmoush clan, a powerful Gazan family allegedly responsible for various illicit activities. In effect, most sources depict AI as a gang or "guns for hire" whose goals are based on financial gains rather than ideological or political wishes.  
The AI’s founder and leader, Mumtaz Dagmoush, is reportedly a former officer in the Preventive Security Organisation (PSO) and served, from the 2000 Intifada until 2006, as the deputy commander of the Popular Resistance Committees (PRCs). There are two accounts as to why Mumtaz Dagmoush split from the PRCs: one is that he was expelled from the PRCs by its leader, Jamal Samhadana, after their assassination in November 2005 of Moussa Arafat, former Director of the Palestinian Military Intelligence and a cousin of Yasir Arafat, in November 2005; sources claim that Samhadana thought Dagmoush had gone too far. Another cited possible reason for Dagmoush to leave the PRCs is that he was overlooked by Hamas when replacing the group's assassinated leader; the position went to Samhadana in June 2006.   

 

Location / Main area of operation

The AI’s stronghold is the Sabra neighborhood of Gaza City, where the members of the Dagmoush clan live.


Objectives

The AI’s members present the objectives of the group as being the liberation of Palestine and the creation of an Islamic state. However, since most sources question the sincerity of the group, the ideals of resisting Israeli occupation and establishing an Islamic state are considered covers for generating criminal income through kidnapping, smuggling, and providing armed militants for other groups to hire.

Number of Members


Estimates of the AI’s strength largely differ; some media sources call it a tiny, armed faction while others estimate the numbers to be closer to several thousand heavily-armed militants.  

Type : National

The Army of Islam is a national NSAG since it predominantly operates in the Gaza Strip; the June 2006 raid in Israel that led to the abduction of soldier Gilad Shalit is considered an isolated incident.

Conflict Status : Active

Army of Islam is an active, armed group. Among the group’s alleged activities, sources count traffic in arms, attacks on internet cafes, hair salons, restaurants, and hotels in Gaza, and kidnappings of locals and Westerners. In addition, AI is currently fighting against Hamas. In this respect, it is important to note that there have been allegations that Fatah, through Mohammed Dahlan, until recently a national-security adviser of the Fatah-led Palestinian Authority, plotted with AI to carry out a series of armed actions, notably kidnappings of foreigners, to undermine Hamas’ rule over Gaza. The AI’s leader, Mumtaz Dagmoush, rejects this allegation.

Structure of the organization

Little information is available on the AI’s structure.  While it is certain that AI draws most of its members from the Dagmoush clan, it is equally clear that some of the clan’s members, notably the elders, criticized the AI’s armed actions, particularly in relation to Alan Johnston’s kidnapping.  

Leadership

Mumtaz Dagmoush, twenty-eight years old, is the founder and leader of the AI.  Formerly an officer in the pro-Fatah Preventive Security Organisation (PSO) in Gaza, at the beginning of the second Intifada, he joined the Popular Resistance Committees and became its deputy commander. Some sources claim that Dagmoush is a radical and becoming increasingly more religious.

External aid/Third party involvement

There is no information on external aid or third party involvement. 

External effects of the NSAG's armed activities

There is no information regarding any direct external effect of the AI’s armed actions.

Funding

It is reported that the AI’s funds come mostly from alleged illegal activities. There are also allegations that Fatah has provided the AI with arms and money in order to challenge Hamas’ authority in Gaza; however, Mumtaz Dagmoush rejects this allegation.

Relationship with the international community

As of July 2007, the Army of Islam is not listed as a terrorist organization by either the European Union   or the United States.

Books

Articles and Chapters

  • Najat Hirbawi, “Chronology of Events. April 1, 2006 to July 1, 2006”, 13.2 Palestine-Israel Journal of Politics, Economics & Culture (2006), at 116-122.

Reports and resolutions of intergovernmental organizations

  • EU Council, Common Position 2006/380/CFSP of 29 May 2006, Official Journal of the European Communities L 144/25, 31.5.2006.

 

Governmental reports

  • CRS Report for Congress, Iraq: U.S. Efforts to Change the Regime, Washington DC, 10 February 2003, available at link.
  • CRS Report for Congress, Israeli-Arab Negotiations: Background, Conflicts, and U.S. Policy, Washington DC, 10 April 2007, available at link.
  • Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs, The Popular Resistance Committees (PRC) Terrorist Organization in 2006, 15 March 2007, available at link.
  •  U.S. Department of State, Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTOs). Fact Sheet Office of Counterterrorism, Washington, DC, 11 October 2005, available at link.

 

Reports of think tanks and non-governmental organizations

  • Amnesty International, Israel/Occupied Territories: Palestinian armed groups must release abducted Israeli soldier, 28 June 2007, available at link
  • International Crisis Group, (2007) After Gaza, Middle East Report N°68, 2 August 2007, available at link.
  • International Crisis Group (2007) Inside Gaza: The Challenge of Clans and Families, Middle East Report N°71, 20 December (Gaza/Jerusalem/Brussels: International Crisis Group), at 11, available at link.
  • IISS (2007), Hamas Coup in Gaza,13.5 Strategic Comments (July).
  • Jaffee Center for Strategic Studies, (2007) Yoram Schweitzer, Is al-Qaeda Closing In?, 10.1 Strategic Assessment.

 

Press Information (in chronological order)

  • “Clan's influence in Gaza feared by all sides,” Charleston Gazette, 8 April 2007.
  • “Clan Holds Gaza in Fear; an Unchecked Influence,” The Kansas City Star, 10 April 2007.
  • “Bombing at U.S.-backed school in Gaza,” International Herald Tribune, 21 April 2007.
  • “As Gaza Burns”, Haaretz, 27 April 2007, available at link. Accessed on 15 April 2008.
  • “Demands issued on Johnston tape,” BBC News, 9 May 2007, available at link. Accessed on 15 April 2008.
  • “Al Qaeda tactics expand in Gaza,” Christian Science Monitor, 11 May 2007.
  • “Gunning in Gaza,” The Economist, 19 May 2007.
  • “Army of Islam Facts” in “Video released of BBC’s Johnston,” BBC News, 1 June 2007, available at link.
  • “Full transcript of Johnston video,” BBC News, 1 June 2007, available at link. Accessed on 15 April 2008.
  • “The shadowy power flexing its muscles in Gaza," Guardian Unlimited, 1 June 2007, available at link.
  • “Briefing: Johnston video and the rise of Islamists in Gaza,” The Times, 1 June 2007, available at link.
  • “History of the Army of Islam”, The Telegraph, 2 June 2007, available at link.
    Accessed on 15 April 2008.
  • “Islamist groups don al-Qaeda’s clothes,” The Times, 2 June 2007.
  • “The moment of greatest danger: after 97 days held captive in Gaza,” The Times, 18 June 2007, available at link.
  • “Gaza clan chief holds onto Johnston,” Jerusalem Post, 22 June 2007.
  • “Hamas, Clan Rivalries, and Alan Johnston's Dangerous Predicament,” Spiegel Online, 25 June 2007.
  • “Not Enough Room in Gaza’: Hamas, Clan Rivalries, and Alan Johnston’s Dangerous Predicament,”(Putz, Ulrike) Spiegel Online, 25 June 2007, available at link.
  • “Kidnappers of BBC journalist threaten to kill him, adding new demand of prisoner release,” Associated Press, 26 June 2007.
  • “Kidnapped BBC man's fate hangs on clan feud,” The Observer, 1 July 2007.
  • “Hamas Makes Arrest in Reporter’s Case,” Associated Press, 2 July 2007.
  • “Hamas arrests Army of Islam official”, Jerusalem Post, 2 July 2007, available at link.
  • “Jihadists held over kidnap of BBC man," The Daily Telegraph, 3 July 2007.
  • “Hamas moves against group said to hold BBC reporter,” The International Herald Tribune, 3 July 2007.
  • “Hamas Takes Step to Force Release of BBC Reporter,” The New York Times, 3 July 2007.
  • “Hamas role in Johnston's release,” BBC News, 4 July 2007, available at link.
  • ”Hamas seeks to gain from release,” BBC News, 4 July 2007 available at link.
  • “Britain offers rare praise for Hamas in Johnston release,” CBC News, 4 July 2007, available at link.
  • “The release of a reporter boosts Hamas,” Economist.com, 4 July 2007, available at link. “Army of Islam 'a powerful clan',” News 24, 4 July 2007, available at link. Accessed on 15 April 2008.
  • “Hamas militiamen lay siege to Gaza stronghold of BBC man's kidnappers,” The Scotsman, 4 July 2007.
  • “Johnston at risk as Hamas tightens its noose around Gaza kidnap gang,” The Times, 4 July 2007.
  • “Hamas reportedly to give arms to BBC reporter's kidnappers UK paper,” Al-Quds al-Arabi website in BBC Monitoring Middle East, 5 July 2007.
  • “Rivals rush to profit as reporter goes free; Hamas takes credit for BBC's Johnston; Fatah pays salaries,” The International Herald Tribune, 5 July 2007.
  • “Details of Johnston deal in dispute,” Jerusalem Post, 5 July 2007, available at link. Accessed on 15 April 2008.
  • “New government; old problems,” Mideast Mirror, 5 July 2007.
  • “Kidnappers emerge with their kudos - and weapons – intact,” The Times, 5 July 2007.
  • “Hamas vows era of law and order,” The Washington Times, 5 July 2007.
  • “Report discusses ruling said to lead to release of BBC Gaza reporter,” Al-Hayat al-Jadidah in BBC Monitoring Middle East, 6 July 2007.
  • “Timeline of Journalist's Kidnapping,” Press Association Newsfile, 7 July 2007.
  • “Al-Qaeda veteran led Johnston kidnap gang,” The Sunday Times, 8 July 2007.
  • “Abbas accuses Hamas rivals of allowing Qaeda into Gaza,” The International Herald Tribune, 11 July 2007.
  • “Abbas Accuses Hamas of Aid To Al Qaeda,” The New York Times, 11 July 2007.
  • “Hamas men arrest Islamists behind attacks on cafes,” Jerusalem Post, 15 July 2007.
  • “Hamas fighters attack Army of Islam clan's base; Arrests made in crackdown; leaders vow to resist disarmament,” The Washington Times, 16 July 2007.

 

Interviews

Internet resources

  • BBC News, Timeline: Alan Johnston abduction, available at link. Accessed on 15 April 2008.
  • International Freedom of Expression Exchange, Liste des journalistes pris en otages dans la bande de Gaza depuis 2005 in “Un journaliste kidnappé à Gaza et libéré après quelques heures”, 23 May 2007, available at link.
  • IISS Armed Conflict Database, Non State Armed Groups, Ansar al Islam - Jund al-Islam - Army of Islam, available at link.
  • Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center at the Israel Intelligence Heritage & Commemoration Center, The release of Alan Johnston and its implications, available at link
     

Statements of the armed group

  • Conflicts Forum (2007), Hamas Briefing: On security in Gaza, Palestinian democracy, the National Unity Government, and the kidnapping of Alan Johnston, Interview with Osama Hamdan, Beirut, 19 June 2007, available at link.
  • Jihad Watch, Army of Islam’ wants Islamic Palestinian state, 27 June 2007, available at link.

Agreements involving armed groups