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On October 7, 2023, Hamas and other Gaza-based militant Palestinian factions launched Operation Al-Aqsa Flood (also called Al-Aqsa Storm), a surprise attack on Israel in the early morning of the Jewish holiday of Simchat Torah. As part of the attack, thousands of rockets were fired into Israel and mujahideen infiltrated Israeli towns and military bases near the Gaza strip, killing hundreds of civilians and soldiers and taking captives. In response, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced a mass mobilization and declared "We are at war" during a televised address on the developments.[1]
On October 9, Al-Qaeda supporter Sandar Al-Ghafiqi published a two-page essay in the form of two posters celebrating the offensive for successfully "eliminating" the Jewish state, and hoping the attack would usher in a new era of jihad around the world. The posters called on Muslims everywhere to target Jews and leave them no safe place, and to revolt against the Arab regimes which prevent their subjects from fighting Israel. Titled "The Al-Aqsa Flood and the Washing Away of the Jews' Entity," one poster features a graphic image of the bodies of Israeli soldiers killed in the attack, while the second shows a soldier being captured by Hamas gunmen.[2]
Celebration Of Hamas "Victory" Which "Eliminated" Israel
The essay opens by praising Allah who "assisted His servants the mujahideen with His power and strength and gave them power over their enemies, killing some and capturing some." Sandar continues by congratulating Muslims, particularly Palestinians, over the "great victory" which brought "new hope to the Muslim ummah [nation]." The Al-Aqsa Flood offensive was "an air/land/naval battle that dazzled the eyes and astonished the world from East to West, breaking the borders, pounding the strongholds, and eliminating the Zionists with its boiling torrents, setting them down in the fires of Hell." The Al-Qaeda supporter gloats that hundreds of "the Jews who yesterday reveled in Al-Aqsa and defiled it with their filth and rites of unbelief" have been killed and captured and that "those lands which they have occupied and stolen for many decades have become a blazing fire above and below them," asserting every "free, honorable Muslim" rejoices over this victory of "his brothers the mujahideen in Palestine."
Wish For Attack To Inspire Jihad Worldwide Against "Apostate" Rulers, Culminating In Conquest Of Al-Aqsa
Asking Allah to assist the Palestinians, protect them, and keep them steadfast, Sandar tells them: "Know that the Islamic ummah is at your side, watching attentively the smallest piece of news from you, not ceasing to pray for your victory and steadfastness, rejoicing over your victories and feeling pain over your misfortune." He quotes Osama Bin Laden's famous words: "The blood of your sons is the blood of our sons, and your blood is our blood […] We will not abandon you until victory or until we taste [death] as it was tasted by [the Prophet Muhammad's martyred uncle] Hamzah bin 'Abd Al-Muttallib."
The Al-Qaeda supporter continues: "We ask Allah to make your blessed flood into a fire that will ignite the spark of jihad in the hearts of Muslims, so that they follow in your footsteps and burn the ground under the feet of the greatest criminals and the apostates who normalize [relations with Israel]. May it not be extinguished or abate until we meet you in the courtyards of Al-Aqsa, as victorious conquerors."
Call For Revolt Against Arab Regimes, Targeting Jews Everywhere
Addressing Muslims everywhere, Sandar declares: "It is an obligatory duty for us to defend and support our brothers, the mujahideen in Palestine, in their blessed jihad by any means." The Al-Qaeda supporter asserts that "the traitorous rulers of the region," such as Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, the ruling families of the UAE and Saudi Arabia and others are merely "the first support and shield for the filthy Jews," as they "prevent the Muslim peoples from defending their Al-Aqsa and their brothers in Palestine." He urges Muslims to "rise up and revolt against those apostate normalizing tyrants," and further directs: "Target the Jews wherever they are all over the world, so that those who Allah has cursed will find no resting place or refuge in Allah's wide earth, except in Hell." In addition, he calls on Muslims to pray intensely for their "brothers in Palestine," noting that every Muslim is capable of doing so, whether young or old, healthy or unwell, male or female, rich or poor.
Predicting Israel's Demise
Addressing "the Zionist occupation," Sandar tells Israel: "Taste some of what you have made the Islamic ummah taste. Your fate is to disappear to Hell. What is coming will be more disastrous and bitter. This blessed flood which eliminated your collapsing entity, harvested your cowardly soldiers, and crushed your security which they said could not be breached, will be followed by storms and volcanos that will burn you and uproot you from all parts of Allah's wide earth […] Await Allah's promise regarding you."
He concludes with a prayer for Allah to defend the mujahideen in Palestine, grant them victory, and "make the Jews' fire against them into coolness and safety," adding: "O Allah, do not let the Jews raise any banner or achieve any goal. Make them a lesson and sign to those after them, and show us the wonders of Your power and Your great sovereignty."
The offensive against Israel has been celebrated by Al-Qaeda affiliates Al-Qaeda in the Indian subcontinent (AQIS)[3] and Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP),[4] as well as by various supporters of the organization.[5]
Sandar Al-Ghafiqi has published essays in the past calling for Muslims to attack Jews worldwide to support Palestinians and help liberate Palestine.[6]
[1] See MEMRI JTTM Report: Hamas, Islamic Jihad, Lions' Den Threaten Lone Wolf Attacks, Claim Capture Of Israeli Soldiers, Call On Palestinians To Disable Surveillance Systems As Part Of Ongoing Hamas Attack, October 7, 2023.
[2] October 9, 2023.
[3] See MEMRI JTTM Report: Al-Qaeda In The Indian Subcontinent (AQIS) Praises 'The Mujahideen Of Al-Qassam Brigades' For Attack On Israel, Hopes It Ushers 'Jihadi Spring', October 9, 2023.
[4] See MEMRI JTTM Report: Al-Qaeda In The Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) Celebrates Hamas Offensive Against Israel; Urges Palestinian Factions To Continue Attack, Repent; Calls Muslims In Countries Bordering Israel To Provide Support, October 9, 2023.
[5] See MEMRI JTTM Reports: Islamic State (ISIS), Al-Qaeda Supporters Celebrate Hamas' Surprise Attack On Israel, Wish For 'Land To Be Liberated From Apes And Swine,' Ruled By Shari'a, Suggest Israel Allowed Attack To Give It Pretext To Expel Palestinians From Gaza, October 8, 2023; Iran-Backed Militia: Direct U.S. Involvement Makes Interests In Region 'Legitimate Targets,' Eliminates All 'Red Lines'; Jihadi Clerics Suggest Overthrowing Regime In Jordan, Drone Attack Against USS Gerald R. Ford, October 9, 2023; and Pro-Al-Qaeda Ideologues, Syria-Based Jihadi Clerics, Celebrate Hamas Offensive, Slam Turkey For Receiving Israeli 'Refugees,' Admit Iran's Clever Investment In Sunni Groups, October 9, 2023.
[6] See MEMRI JTTM Reports: Celebrating Jerusalem Attacks On Israelis, Al-Qaeda Supporter Urges Muslims Everywhere To Target 'Jews, Crusaders, Apostates' To Help Liberate Palestine, January 31, 2023; and Prominent Al-Qaeda Supporter Calls On Muslims To Support Palestinians By Attacking Jews And Their 'Interests And Helpers', July 6, 2023.
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