Breach 'let jihadis flood into Gaza'

THE Palestinian Authority claims the two-week breach of the border between southern Gaza and Egypt last month allowed up to 2000 global jihadi militants to infiltrate the restive strip to take up the fight against Israel.

Security sources in the West Bank say the men, many of whom battled coalition forces in Iraq, brought with them weapons and explosives to add to an already formidable arsenal controlled by Hamas.

The men have begun tours of Hamas training camps throughout Gaza and have vowed to step up attacks on the Israeli side of the security barrier, say key figures among forces loyal to Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, who lost control of Gaza during infighting last June.

The reports are yet to be confirmed, but if proved indicate the possibility of a sharp escalation in six months of steadily building clashes between the Israeli army and Gaza-based militants.

Aside from its confrontation with Hezbollah in the north, Israel has not before been under threat by organised and battle-hardened global jihadi extremists holed up so close to its borders.

Hamas has been at pains to differentiate itself from the global jihadi movement, which is inextricably linked to the anti-Christian, anti-Jewish world view of al-Qa'ida founder Osama bin Laden.

Hamas, and to a lesser extent Islamic Jihad, say their jihad remit extends only to fighting Israel in the Holy Land. Both groups have been violently opposed to the Jewish state since they were formed 20 years ago, but have in the past denounced terror attacks elsewhere in the region, claiming they were not justified. Mossad Passes Disinformation