‘Army Of Islam’ Terrorists Killed In Israeli Airstrike

Jerusalem – As part of a joint Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) and Israeli intelligence operation yesterday, Israeli aerial attacks were carried out in which the IDF identified hitting Army of Islam terrorists involved in recent attempts to execute a large-scale terror attack against Israeli targets.

Among the terrorists killed were Ma’ataz Dagmesh, 29, resident of Gaza; Mahmud Shandi, 25, resident of Al-Hawa; and Muhamad Asaliya, 21, resident of the UNRWA refugee camp of Jabaliya – three senior terrorists within the organization.

Mr. Dagmesh, whose brother is the Army Of Islam commander in Gaza, was the leader and planner of the thwarted terror attack. Mr. Asaliya served as the organization’s senior “terror attack planner.”

The Army of Islam is an Islamist organization that represents al-Qaida in the Gaza Strip, while advocating worldwide jihad. The organization was involved in numerous attacks against Israel, including:

* The abduction of the Israeli soldier Cpl. Gilad Shalit in a joint attack with Hamas on Kerem Shalom Crossing, June 25, 2006, killing two other soldiers.

* The abduction of British reporter Alan Johnston, who was incarcerated for four months, released only on July 4, 2007.

* A joint attack with Hamas in December 2005 in which five Israeli civilians were killed.

* In February 2006, the organization attempted to carry out a car bomb attack on the Karni crossing.

In late September 2007, the organization was planning a terror attack by sea. The attack was thwarted when several of the terrorists were killed.

David Bedein can be reached at dbedein@israelbehindthenews.com. His Web site is www.IsraelBehindTheNews.com

©The Bulletin 2008