Salafist sheikhs seek Hamas cooperation

Salafist sheikhs in the Gaza Strip have urged Hamas, the Islamic Resistance Movement that controls the Gaza Strip, to bring an end to their ongoing conflict with local Salafi jihadist groups. Hamas recently ramped up security in an effort to thwart Salafist attacks on adjacent Israeli territory, which threaten to violate the group's ceasefire agreement with Israel. In a press statement, Sheikh Nael Masran warned Hamas that further inter-group conflict would distract Palestinians from their common goal of resisting occupation. The sheikh added that Salafist groups do not feel obliged to comply with agreements they did not partake in, alluding to the Egyptian-brokered ceasefire that came into effect last November. Masran argued that the current conflict "can only be resolved through dialogue and by opening channels of communication," explaining that military action would only ossify divergent viewpoints. The Islamic leader asked Hamas to cease discriminating against young Salafists "on the basis of their backgrounds or incidents that have occurred in other countries." Salafi Sheikh Majdi al-Mahgraby also called upon Hamas to amend its approach towards Salafist groups. Mahgraby said: "Even if they disagree on some matters, Hamas’ refusal to provide Salafists with the security it affords Islamic militants belonging to other movements is unjustified."