RADIO FREE EUROPE
by Joanna Paraszczuk
May 5, 2015

Tensions are rising in Gaza between the Palestinian group Hamas and Jamaat Ansar al-Dawla al-Islamiya Fi Bayt al-Maqdis (The Supporters Of Islamic State In Jerusalem), a Salafist faction that considers itself loyal to the Islamic State (IS) group. The flare-up was sparked on May 3 when Hamas destroyed a mosque belonging to the Supporters Of Islamic State In Jerusalem (SISJ) in the coastal enclave’s Deir al-Balah city. SISJ responded to the demolition of the mosque by issuing a statement threatening to carry out actions against Hamas targets if the Palestinian group did not release several SISJ militants who were detained in Gaza last month. A Twitter account linked to the SISJ tweeted on May 3 that they would give Hamas 72 hours to release the Salafist prisoners or face the consequences….According to Egyptian daily Al-Masry al-Youm, the Supporters Of Islamic State In Jerusalem statement said that three bulldozers had demolished the mosque, “in a manner that even the Jewish and American Occupation has not done.” READ MORE