Masada al-Mujahideen
مسعدة المجاهدين
Political leaderAbu al-Walid al-Maqdisi
Dates of operation2008–2013
Allegiance Al-Qaeda
IdeologySalafist jihadism
Wahhabism
Statusdefunct
Allies Tawhid and Jihad Group in Jerusalem
Mujahideen Shura Council in the Environs of Jerusalem
Opponents United States
 Israel
Hamas
Jaysh al-Ummah
Battles and warsGaza–Israel conflict

Masada al-Mujahideen (Arabic: سعدة المجاهدين) is a Palestinian terrorist organization associated with Al-Qaeda inside the Gaza Strip.[1]

History

The group first came into prominence after releasing a video online showing the group dropping a bomb on the Israeli city of Sderot.[2] This prompted Israeli Air Force to do airstrikes against Masada al-Mujahideen in the Gaza Strip.[3] After starting clashes with Israeli Defense Forces, another Jihadist organization in the Gaza strip named Jaysh al-Ummah, also known as Army of the Ummah, started clashes with Masada al-Mujahideen after they disapproved of the works done by the organization.[4] Later that year, Masada al-Mujahideen creates a media-wing for propaganda called Riah,[5] it mostly operated on Google+ until the account was taken down,[6] which then the group would move to Facebook.[7] It would create eulogies for Osama bin Laden,[8] Attiya Allah,[9] and Abu Yahya al-Libi.[10]

Attacks in Israel

Masada al-Mujahideen, a couple months after the bomb attack, would threaten with more "operations" in Israel,[11] later that day, they would claim responsibility a train fire that happened at night in Haifa.[12] A couple days later, they claim responsibility for a cargo ship fire in Eilat, Israel.[13] In July 2011, they would claim responsibility for a forest fire that happened in Jerusalem,[14] again in July they would claim responsibility for the Alfei Menashe Fire.[15] In October 2011, Masada al-Mujahideen would claim responsibility for multiple arson attacks that have happened in Israel.[16] In November 2011, Masada al-Mujahideen would claim responsibility for an arson attack on a chemical factory owned by the Israeli government,[17] then in December, they would claim responsibility for an industrial center arson attack.[18] In 2012 they claimed responsibility for an arson attack in Be'er Ya'akov.[19] In that year, they would also set a military base on fire in Ashkelon, owned by the Israel Defense Forces, and claim responsibility,[20] later that month, they would claim responsibility an arson attack on an airplane factory in Haifa,[21] they would also later that month, again in Haifa, claim responsibility for a residential fire that happened.[22] Again in May 2012, in Northern Israel, they would claim a series of different fires and arson attacks, including some in the occupied region of the Golan Heights.[23] Masada would also, the next day, claim responsibility for fire attacks targeting IDF guards.[24]

Attacks in Palestine and at Hamas

A month after the cargo ship fire, Masada al-Mujahideen would attack the Palestinian Liberation Organization's soldiers after Palestine would start land negotiations with Israel.[25] Masada al-Mujahideen would start doing light attacks on Hamas for the treatment of their POWs and regular prisoners.[26] In 2012, Masada al-Mujahideen blamed Hamas for the death of the Salafi Jihadist leader, Abu al-Walid al-Maqdisi, and threatened to attack Hamas, which they would later do so.[27][28]

Arizona wildfires and Nevada forest fires

In 2012, Masada al-Mujahideen attempted to claim responsibility for the Nevada forest fires, until their claim was disproved.[29]

In 2013, during one of Arizona's wildfires, Masada al-Mujahideen claimed responsibility with the statement "Masada al-Mujahideen Fulfilled its Promise and Attacked America Again After the Expiration of the Period with Fires that Achieved Historic Results",[30] they would also celebrate the death of 19 firefighters attempting to put out the wildfire, but Arizona local governments would reject the claim done by the organization.[31][32]

References

  1. "Masada al Mujahideen". TRAC. Retrieved 21 January 2023.
  2. "Masada al-Mujahideen Video of Rocket Attack on Sderot". SITE Enterprise. 22 July 2011. Retrieved 21 January 2023.
  3. Farrall, Leah (2017). "Revisiting al-Qaida's Foundation and Early History". Perspectives on Terrorism. 11 (6): 17–37. ISSN 2334-3745. JSTOR 26295954.
  4. "Army of the Ummah Takes Issue with Palestinian Faction". SITE Enterprise. 22 July 2011. Retrieved 21 January 2023.
  5. "Masada al-Mujahideen Changes Media Arm's Name". SITE Enterprise. 22 July 2011. Retrieved 21 January 2023.
  6. "Masada al-Mujahideen's Media Arm Joins Google's Social Network Website". SITE Enterprise. 20 July 2012. Retrieved 21 January 2023.
  7. "Masada al-Mujahideen Moves to Facebook After Google+ Account Banned". SITE Enterprise. 6 August 2012. Retrieved 21 January 2023.
  8. "Masada al-Mujahideen Gives Eulogy for Usama bin Laden". SITE Enterprise. 5 August 2011. Retrieved 21 January 2023.
  9. "Masada al-Mujahideen Gives Eulogy for Attiya Allah". SITE Enterprise. 12 January 2012. Retrieved 21 January 2023.
  10. "Masada al-Mujahideen Gives Condolences for Abu Yahya al-Libi". SITE Enterprise. 11 September 2012. Retrieved 21 January 2023.
  11. "Masada al-Mujahideen Threatens More Operations in Israel". SITE Enterprise. 25 July 2011. Retrieved 21 January 2023.
  12. "Masada al-Mujahideen Claims Train Fire in Israel". SITE Enterprise. 25 July 2011. Retrieved 21 January 2023.
  13. "Masada al-Mujahideen Claims Ship Fire Near Eilat, Israel". SITE Enterprise. 25 July 2011. Retrieved 21 January 2023.
  14. "Masada al-Mujahideen Claims Jerusalem Forest Fire". SITE Enterprise. 11 October 2011. Retrieved 21 January 2023.
  15. "Masada al-Mujahideen Claims Alfei Menashe Fire". SITE Enterprise. 11 October 2011. Retrieved 21 January 2023.
  16. "Masada al-Mujahideen Claims Multiple Arsons in Israel". SITE Enterprise. 1 November 2011. Retrieved 21 January 2023.
  17. "Masada al-Mujahideen Claims Arson at Chemical Factory". SITE Enterprise. 11 December 2011. Retrieved 21 January 2023.
  18. "Masada al-Mujahideen Claims Arson at Industrial Center". SITE Enterprise. 12 January 2012. Retrieved 21 January 2023.
  19. "Masada al-Mujahideen Claims Arson in Be'er Ya'akov". SITE Intelligence Group. 31 January 2012. Retrieved 21 January 2023.
  20. "Masada al-Mujahideen Claims Military Base Fire in Ashkelon". SITE Enterprise. 9 May 2012. Retrieved 21 January 2023.
  21. "Masada al-Mujahideen Claims Arson in Haifa Plane Factory". SITE Enterprise. 11 May 2012. Retrieved 21 January 2023.
  22. "Masada al-Mujahideen Claims Residential Fire in Haifa City". SITE Enterprise. 15 May 2012. Retrieved 21 January 2023.
  23. "Masada al-Mujahideen Claims Series of Fires in Northern Israel". SITE Enterprise. 22 May 2012. Retrieved 21 January 2023.
  24. "Masada al-Mujahideen Claims Fires Targeting Israeli Security Agents". SITE Enterprise. 23 May 2012. Retrieved 21 January 2023.
  25. "Masada al-Mujahideen Attacks Negotiations for Palestinian Land". SITE Enterprise. 5 August 2011. Retrieved 21 January 2023.
  26. "Masada al-Mujahideen Condemns Hamas' Treatment of Prisoners". SITE Enterprise. 5 August 2011. Retrieved 21 January 2023.
  27. Says, Mike Merlo (15 October 2012). "Masada al Mujahideen says Hamas is responsible for death of top Salafi leader, threatens attacks". FDD's Long War Journal. Retrieved 21 January 2023.
  28. "Masada al-Mujahideen Threatens Hamas, Israel Over Assassination". SITE Enterprise. 15 October 2012. Retrieved 22 January 2023.
  29. "Palestinian Militant Faction Claims Nevada Forest Fire". SITE Enterprise. 8 February 2012. Retrieved 21 January 2023.
  30. "Palestinian jihadist group claims credit for Arizona wildfire". FDD's Long War Journal. 3 July 2013. Retrieved 21 January 2023.
  31. "Arizona Officials 'Unequivocally' Reject Palestinian Jihadist Group's Claim of Responsibility for Wildfires". The 5 Towns Jewish Times. 12 July 2013. Retrieved 21 January 2023.
  32. "Palestinian Militant Group Gives Dubious Claim for Arizona Wildfire". SITE Enterprise. 3 July 2013. Retrieved 21 January 2023.
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