A letter written by an ISIS fighter to the terror group’s leader, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, exposes the ties between the ISIS affiliate in the Sinai peninsula and the Palestinian terrorist organization Hamas.
The letter, first reported by the Middle East Media Research Institute (MEMRI), was recently posted to social media. In it, Abu Abdallah Al-Muhajir, who describes himself as a jihadist from Gaza who joined ISIS in Syria, criticized the way ISIS in Sinai was cooperating with Hamas and its military wing.
The letter appears to be the first evidence from ISIS confirming the group’s ties to Hamas. It claimed that ISIS operatives were smuggling weapons for Hamas into Gaza and that Hamas is making explosives and other weapons for the ISIS affiliate in Sinai.
"I speak to you today about the suspect and illegitimate ties between Sinai province and Hamas, which are hidden from no one," the ISIS fighter writes in the letter, according to excerpts provided by MEMRI.
"Sinai province is smuggling weapons for Hamas in Gaza, because of the province’s fighters’ expert knowledge of the [smuggling] routes from Libya, Sudan, and Egypt."
"Sinai province depends very much on Hamas and Al-Qassam for weapons and for explosives and ammunition," he continues, referring to Hamas’ military wing. "There are direct and continuous supply routes from Hamas to Sinai province."
Hamas has also provided ISIS in Sinai with hospital care for wounded fighters and communications services, according to the letter. Additionally, ISIS operatives in Sinai have met with Hamas leaders for "cordial" meals.
"Sinai province leaders are regularly visiting the Gaza Strip, and holding cordial meetings with Hamas and Al-Qassam leaders, even [Hamas] government [representatives]," the ISIS fighter wrote. "Animals are slaughtered for them, feasts are held, and they are embraced in Gaza."