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Hamas in armed confrontation at mosque with 'al-Qaeda' followers

[update 15 August 13:05 BST - Latif Musa commits suicide, at least 20 dead]

[update 20:27 BST - Salafi leader Abdul Latif Musa's home has been blown up]

The BBC World Service is reporting heavy fighting at a mosque controlled by a salafist group - the warriors of God (they tried to attack a border crossing a few weeks ago). Recent mortar fire from armed groups beyond Hamas's ranks led to an Israeli air strike on Rafah tunnels for the first time in two months. Hamas, which has declared a monopoly on the right to bear arms, is clamping down hard on Islamist groups beyond its ranks, although not Islamic Jihad as yet. The Iman at the mosque currently under siege, declared Gaza an Islamic emirate, decrying Hamas as 'soft'. According to ynetnews six dead so far including a 'senior Hamas leader'.
Gaza clash: Hamas forces clashed with supporters of a radical cleric in the Gaza Strip following a provocative anti-Hamas sermon delivered Friday.

At least six people were killed in the shootout, including senior Hamas man Jibril al-Shimali, Palestinian sources said. Another 50 people were hurt in the gunfight.


The Gaza Strip is an Islamic emirate, local Salafi leader Abdul Latif Musa told worshippers during a prayer session earlier, slamming Hamas' conduct in Gaza and pledging his supporters' allegiance to al-Qaeda.

"We belong to al-Qaeda and our leader is Osama Bin Laden," said Musa, considered the leader of Gaza's Salafi branch.

The gunfight took place near a Rafah mosque and both sides were making use of mortar fire during the battle. Musa's followers later left the mosque and took positions around it.

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