The Israeli army was dealt a painful blow on June 25 when three Palestinian armed groups crossed the Gaza border into Israeli territory through an underground tunnel, attacked a military post, killed two soldiers and abducted a third.

While media attention is focusing on the attack and the events that followed, terror analysts are looking into a different, somewhat bizarre aspect of the operation.

Two of the organizations that took credit for the attack are well known. These are the ‘Azz A-Din Al-Qassam Brigades, known as the military wing of Hamas, and the Na’sir ‘Salah A-Din Brigades, known as the military wing of the Popular Resistance Committees (PRC), which some say is a sub-contractor of Hamas.

But for the first time, a previously unknown organization also took joint credit for the operation. The group, called the Army of Islam (Jeish Al-Islam in Arabic) has had strategic analysts scratching their heads, speculating about who they are and where they came from.

Most analysts agree it is likely this group is home-grown, perhaps a breakaway of an existing armed organization.

Al-Qaida link?

Another assumption is that the Army of Islam is linked to Al-Qaida. This premise was reinforced by senior members of Israel’s security system who were quoted in news reports as saying the group belongs directly to Al-Qaida, is extremely dangerous and is more radical than other organizations.

The name also bears a resemblance to several Al-Qaida-linked organizations such as the Islamic Army in Iraq, and a recently formed group reportedly calling itself the Islamic Army of Jerusalem.

Senior officials in both Israel and the Palestinian Authority have pointed to intelligence information indicating that Al-Qaida has taken root in the Palestinian areas.

But Dr. Munthir Dajani, a political scientist and head of the Arts faculty at Al-Quds University in east Jerusalem, said the Hamas-Al-Qaida link is not likely.

“How can they belong to Al-Qaida when Al-Qaida takes issue with Hamas?” he asked.

Hamas, Dajani explained, has always been in Al-Qaida’s bad books, and even more so since they came to power in January, taking over the Palestinian legislature and government. From Al-Qaida’s perspective, he said, a revolutionary cannot assume an official position in government. Also, Al-Qaida considers followers of Hamas and of its mother organization, the Muslim Brotherhood, apostates who are not following the correct path of Islam and are tainted by an inborn corruption that comes with political power.

“Al-Qaida wouldn’t touch Hamas or the Muslim Brotherhood with a one-mile-long pole,” Dajani said.

Also, he does not believe Al-Qaida has a large base of support among Palestinians.

But Gen. (res.) Yaakov Amidror, a former head of Israel’s military intelligence, believes there is no contradiction between Hamas and Al-Qaida.

“There is a connection between them, even if it isn’t a hierarchical one, because both organizations share a similar world-view,” he said.

While Al-Qaida wants Islam to rule the world, Amidror explained, Hamas is also seeking Islamic rule, but on a much more local level.

Amidror does not rule out that the Army of Islam is linked to Al-Qaida, but it is also possible it is a breakaway group from Hamas or from the PRC. What is certain, Amidror said, is that this group did not emerge out of thin air, and it must be getting backing from somewhere.

“If you establish your own organization, you simply can’t dig an 800-meter tunnel in your first military operation and bomb a military post,” Amidror said.

The PRC-Hamas connection

According to a report in the London-based Al-Hayyat, the Army of Islam issued a message on Tuesday, saying Sunday’s operation would be followed by a series of actions aiming to eventually establish an Islamic caliphate.

The leader of the group, the report said, is Mumtaz Daghmash, a former field leader of the Na’sir ‘Salah A-Din Brigades. Until recently, Daghmash’s connection with the PRC has been rocky, to say the least.

According to Al-Hayyat, Daghmash fell out with the PRC leadership last year, when an armed group under his command assassinated Mousa Arafat, a high-ranking security adviser in the Palestinian Authority. The assassination reportedly caused a rift between Daghmash and the PRC chief, Jamal Abu Samhadana.

Sunday’s operation heralded a reconciliation between Daghmash and the PRC leadership. Samhadana was assassinated by the Israeli army on June 8.

Daghmash is said to be very close to Hamas. According to Israeli intelligence sources, Hamas has provided Daghmash and his group with operative assistance, including funding, training and supply of arms and ammunition. Some observers even say his group is part of Hamas’ military wing.

Confusion reigns

Dajani said it was possible the name “Army of Islam” was fabricated to make the operation look more elaborate.

It might also be the product of a disgruntled group within Hamas who were opposed to Hamas’ running for office and formed its own splinter group.

“I think they’re giving names to new groups to fudge the issue and bring new people to the forefront,” Dajani said.

But the exact nature and identity of the Army of Islam still remains a mystery. Contradictory reports have abounded since Sunday’s operation, painting a baffling picture of this group’s origins and whereabouts.

One report quoted PRC sources as saying the organization was formed by Samhadana himself before his death as a small offshoot of the PRC.

In another report, a masked man claiming to be an “Army” member told AP his group was formed a year ago and that Sunday’s attack was its first operation.

Other reports have said it was formed in the wake of Samhadana’s death, as part of a restructuring of the PRC.