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August 23, 2006
(Bumped) Breaking: Gaza group claims kidnapping of Fox journalists
See "possibly related" at bottom of post - Is this an Iraq - associated al-Qaeda group previously known to be operating in Gaza?
In breaking news just making its way over Fox News cable:
GAZA (Reuters) - A previously unknown militant group in Gaza claimed responsibility on Wednesday for the kidnapping nine days ago of two Fox journalists and demanded the United States release "Muslim prisoners" within 72 hours.More as available..."Release what you have, and we will release what we have," the Holy Jihad Brigades said in a fax sent to reporters.
Fox correspondent Steve Centanni and cameraman Olaf Wiig were abducted by masked gunmen in Gaza City on Aug 14 as they were working on a story.
This does not look good. It sounds like they are making a demand that the terrorists know will not be met. More often than not, when such demands are made, the hostages have not faired well - not at all.
CNN has a little more information.
Related: Kidnapping signals rising threat in Gaza.
Possibly related: Could the Holy Jihad Brigades have any relationship to the Islamic Jihad Brigades operating out of Iraq, and an al-Qaeda operation???
... a second Internet notice was signed the "Jihad Brigades of the Border Districts," another name for al Qaeda-Palestine. It was a transparent effort to ascertain that Israelis and Palestinians alike were apprised of the new organization in the Gaza Strip. ... The third warning appeared on August 16. By then, the Israel army and police had begun evicting Israelis from the Gaza Strip. This four-page missive consisted of a list of oaths of allegiance sworn by the Jihadist Brigades in the Border Districts (Palestine) to the Taliban leader Mullah Omar, who is termed "Emir of the Faithful and Head of the Islamic Caliphate."Hot Air has video...
The three messages reveal a carefully calibrated al Qaeda operation of four steps, designed to parellel the Israeli pullout from the Gaza Strip.
Cross posted from Hyscience
Posted by Richard at August 23, 2006 10:24 AM
