The Army of the Nations An Al Qaida Style Group In Gaza Prepares For Battle Against Israel

Jaysh al Ummah or the Army of the Nation a Palestinian Islamic group who models its ideology on Osama Bin Laden's Al Qaida,  is training for a battle against Israel in Gaza. Hamas has allowed estremist groups such as the Army of Nation and the Army of Islam to raise their heads in Gaza, and supplies them with funds and weapons, recognizing them as legitimate military groups but at the same time has cautioned them not to interfere in internal Palestinian politics. An example of the tight cooperation with Hamas  can be seen in the instance where Hamas supplied the Army of Islam with over $5 million dollars and over a million Kalashnikov rifle bullets after they released BBC journalist Alan Johston from captivity in July last year. In February this year Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas warned of the dangerous trend emerging in Gaza and accused Hamas of supporting the Al Qaida groups operating in the tiny coastal strip. 09/01/08