Sinai jihadis seek to sabotage Palestinian reconciliation
Growing cooperation between Hamas and the Egyptian government is making life more difficult for Islamic State affiliate Wilayat Sinai by draining its sources of support.
Terrorist group Wilayat Sinai, an Islamic State affiliate, has been infuriated by the rapprochement between Hamas and Egyptian intelligence in the wake of the Palestinian reconciliation reached Oct. 12.
The Hamas-Egypt rapprochement means the common borders will be secured and Wilayat Sinai jihadis will be prevented from moving between Gaza and Sinai. This denies Wilayat Sinai access to the areas where it used to train some of its Gazan members. Also, with the new security measures, the group will no longer be able to smuggle in money and logistical support.
A Sinai tribesman close to Egyptian intelligence told Al-Monitor on condition of anonymity that Wilayat Sinai’s most recent effort to jeopardize the reconciliation was a failed attempt Oct. 27 to assassinate Gen. Tawfiq Abu Naim, the commander of the Gaza Strip security services and one of the most influential Hamas leaders.
He said a jihadi loyal to Wilayat Sinai in Gaza planted an explosive device in Abu Naim’s car, based on what Egyptian intelligence found out from Palestinian security investigations in Gaza.
