Strategic Assessment

The violent Salafist groups operating within the Gaza Strip constitute a loosely affiliated network of Palestinian militants who have joined forces with those who would strengthen the ties between the nationalist Palestinian struggle and the transnational jihadists’ agenda. In addition, these groups question the political hegemony and the monopoly of force that the Hamas government wields. This article sketches the origins and development of the violent Salafist movement in Gaza, while defining the nature and magnitude of the threat that this movement poses to Hamas and its government, both politically and militarily. The article also discusses the potential impact of the Salafist movement on Hamas’ broader political and organizational strategy.