Islamic State (ISIS) Supporter In Gaza Accuses Hamas Of Killing ISIS Supporters Who Tried To Fight Israel, Claims Hamas Stole Footage Of ISIS Supporters' Activities And Published It As Its Own

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On June 17, 2024, the pro-Islamic State (ISIS) "Uwar Al-Haqq" Telegram channel, affiliated with prominent female ISIS supporter Ahlam Al-Nasr, published the text of a post[1] from the channel of Gaza-based ISIS supporter Abu 'Umar Al-Maqdisi, adding a link to the post.[2] Al-Maqdisi's channel has since been deleted.

Al-Maqdisi claimed that ISIS supporters in the Gaza Strip's Rafah, on the Egyptian border, had tried to fight Israeli forces but were prevented from doing so by operatives of the Hamas military wing 'Izz Al-Din Al-Qassam Brigades, who killed one of them. He further asserted that some of the footage which Hamas published as showing its operatives in action was filmed by ISIS supporters to document their own activities and subsequently stolen by Hamas.

Following is a translation of Al-Maqdisi's post:

"There is a lot to say during the recent period of interruption [apparently referring to a period when Aal-Maqdisi's channel was inactive], but [this is] what I want to say now. It may not be correct for me to write it for security reasons, but your knowledge of the truth is more important to me than my welfare, and Allah is the best protector:

"Many of the sons of Al-Qassam fled from Rafah, and only a few remained. The Jews did not suffer any difficulty in entering the far west of Rafah.

"Some of your brothers the monotheists [i.e. ISIS supporters] wanted to repel the Jews in Rafah, specifically western Rafah in the Tall Al-Sultan area, and wage jihad with whatever simple equipment they had. Despite the security situation, the [Israeli] aircraft, and the difficulty of entering the area, the brothers of the Rafidites [a pejorative term for Shiites, a reference to Hamas' backing by Iran], Al-Qassam, intercepted them and demanded that they withdraw and not be [in the area]. The brothers refused, so Hamas operatives shot directly at them! And they killed one of the best brothers, R. 'A. – may Allah have mercy on him, and I cannot mention his name for his family's safety. They had previously killed a brother in Khan Yunis by the same method as the Rafidite criminal gangs, with a shot straight to his head!!

"They do not want any visibility or open activity by the monotheists, those of the [correct] creed. On the other hand, they see no harm in polishing the image of the Rafidites and leaving the misguided and corrupt parties alone. I will give you another example of their unbelief, misguidance, and transgression. Some videos which appeared on the filthy channel, Al-Jazeera, of Al-Qassam in the Khan Yunis area were filmed and prepared by the brothers. They [Al-Qassam] seized them and published them in their name. There is a video of theirs in which a brother appears holding a miswak [traditional Islamic toothbrush]. He is well-known by name – may Allah protect him – and they published it in the name of Al-Qassam! May Allah fight the Jews and the misguided and apostate parties, the allies of the Rafidites!"

It is noteworthy that ISIS supporters have claimed that among the fighters who invaded Israel from Gaza on October 7, 2023, along with operatives of Hamas and other Palestinian factions, were several ISIS supporters.[3]

Both official ISIS media productions and messaging from supporters have harshly condemned Hamas as an apostate faction, accusing it of fighting against ISIS, allying with Shi'ite Iran, failing to implement shari'a, and other acts that ISIS views as cardinal sins which lead their committers out of the fold of Islam.[4]