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Al-Shabab, Al-Qaeda's affiliate in Somalia released a statement congratulating Gaza for achieving an "epic victory" over Israel and its Western backers.
Al-Shabab: "Muslim Ummah Must Realize The Importance Of Jihad After The Epic Victory Broke The Arrogance Of The Jews And The Alliance Of The Cross"
On January 22, 2025, Al-Shabab's Press Office published a statement "for immediate release," in which it congratulated the people of Gaza for its alleged victory over Israel and the "alliance of the Cross."[1] The statement was issued after the announcement of an Israel-Hamas ceasefire agreement.
The statement was titled "Congratulations to Gaza, the Proud and Honorable." It opened by praising the people of Gaza for its steadfast patience and resistance during the Israel-Hamas war, which culminated in an "epic victory," it said, that "broke the arrogance of the Jews and the alliance of the Cross."
Al-Shabab also expressed its congratulations and condolences to the families of martyrs, urging them, and the Muslim ummah as whole, to recognize the importance of jihad:
"From this position, which we see according to the principles of war as being a humiliating defeat that breaks the arrogance of the Jews no matter the cost, we extend our congratulations and condolences to the families and relatives of the martyrs [...] Our advice to the Muslim ummah after what Gaza witnessed in terms of the amount of blood [shed] and the honor of steadfastness is to realize the importance of jihad, preparation, and steadfastness in the path of Allah Almighty, as well as the importance of raising awareness about the value of freedom and steadfastness in the face of the unbelievers and tyrants, so that the ends are the most important things which occupy hearts in this life, not construction or the manifestations of luxury, as all of these things can be compensated for and renews, but religion and honor cannot be bought, sold, or compensated for!"
"We Have Pledged Allegiance To Death" For The Palestinian Cause; Our Pledge Is The Same As Was Made By Osama Bin Laden: 'Your Blood Is Our Blood'
The statement reiterated Al-Shabab's support for the Palestinian cause, invoking the words of Osama bin Laden: "We have pledged allegiance to death and we carry the same pledge which was announced by the Imam of Jihad, Sheikh Osama bin Laden, may Allah accept him and have mercy on him, when he said: 'To our brothers in Palestine, we say to them: The blood of your sons is the blood of our sons, and your blood is our blood. Blood is blood, and destruction is destruction. We bear witness to Allah Almighty that we will not let you down, until victory is achieved, or until we taste what Hamza bin Abd Al-Muttalib – may Allah be pleased with him – tasted."
[1] Telegram, January 22, 2025.
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