World Bulletin/News Desk

The most prominent Salafist organizations operating in the Gaza Strip, the Mujahedeen Shura Council in the Environs of Jerusalem reportedly issued a statement on Feb. 2, asserting that they were “committed to helping ISIS and bolstering its ranks.”

According to the Al Monitor web site, the statement added that the infighting taking place in Syria was due to “an unfair view toward ISIS and its emir, the Prince of Believers Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.”

A video spread on social networking sites and local news agencies showing purported Salafists affiliated with al-Qaeda, meeting in the Gaza Strip on Feb. 11, to offer support and pledge allegiance to ISIS, report says.

According to the report, the video started with a written phrase that read, “Jerusalem champions the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham,” with no further evidence indicating the location of where the clip was shot. The video’s participants further declared that they were ready to fight and help their brethren in their quest: “Your armies in Syria and Iraq, are joined by this army of the environs of Jerusalem, which shall champion you undeterred by its fight against the Jews.”

Al-Monitor said was unable to reach any of the gunmen who swore allegiance to ISIS, because they feared that any public appearance by them would lead to their arrest by the Gaza government’s security agencies.

However, Al-Monitor states meet with one of the leaders of these Salafist factions, who requested anonymity for the same security concerns. Commenting on the video clip, he said, “The video is real and was shot in the Gaza Strip by young men primarily driven by emotions to come to the aid of our brothers in Syria.” He considered that the announcement of their presence in the video and the poster was an indication that the organization had spread beyond Iraq and Syria to reach Palestine.