Jund Ansar Allah (Gaza)

Jund Ansar Allah is a Salafi-jihadi group active in Gaza that pledged allegiance to al-Qaeda. It first came to prominence in June 2009 when its members attacked Israeli security forces personnel on horseback at the Karni border crossing. Two months later, the group’s then leader, Latif Moussa, declared an “Islamic Emirate” in the Gaza Strip from his mosque in Rafah. The ensuing two-day gun battle with Hamas security forces resulted in the death of 22 people, including six Hamas members and Latif Moussa. The group has criticised Hamas for not imposing Sharia law and it is thought that its members previously fought in Iraq and Afghanistan.