Aug 17 (Reuters) - Several Islamist groups operate under the watchful eye of the Gaza Strip's Hamas rulers, who suppressed a challenge by an al Qaeda-aligned movement, the "Warriors of God", in fighting that killed 28 people. Here are some facts about Hamas and other Islamist groups: HAMAS The Islamic Resistance Movement Hamas won a parliamentary election in 2006 and took control of the Gaza Strip in 2007 after a brief civil war with security forces loyal to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas's secular Fatah party. Hamas, an acronym that means "enthusiasm", called in its 1988 charter for the destruction of Israel and the establishment of an Islamic Palestinian state. It has since said in return for a long-term truce, it would accept a Palestinian state on land Israel occupied in a 1967 war. It has defied Western calls to recognise Israel and renounce violence. The Islamist group gives priority to Palestinian nationalist goals over international religious aims. It has an armed wing believed to number some 25,000 men and controls security forces in the Gaza Strip that have 13,000 members. ISLAMIC JIHAD Islamic Jihad has several thousand fighters in the Gaza Strip and wields less influence than its Hamas rival. It also lacks the large network of charities Hamas has used to boost its political power in the impoverished enclave. The group, which did not sign up to past Hamas-Israel ceasefires, is backed by Iran and Syria. It advocates Israel's elimination and has stayed out of the Palestinian election process, part of its rejection of Abbas's peace efforts. Islamic Jihad briefly engaged Hamas in gun battles after Hamas took over the Gaza Strip two years ago. JUND ANSAR ALLAH The "Warriors of God" made their presence known in dramatic fashion in June 2009, when three of its gunmen -- on horseback -- were killed in an attack on an Israeli army base on the Gaza border. The group, believed to number several hundred including some former Hamas members, espouses al Qaeda sympathies. It is popularly known as a jihadist Salafi group, grounded in militant fundamentalism that includes waging a battle for global Islamic dominance. On Friday, the group's leader, Abdel-Latif Moussa, angered Hamas by declaring an Islamic emirate and pledging to implement Islamic law. Fighting ensued in the southern Gaza town of Rafah in which 28 people, including Moussa, more than a dozen of the group's followers and six Hamas policemen, were killed. ARMY OF ISLAM Jaysh al-Islam, or Army of Islam, is a former ally of Hamas and participated with it in a cross-border raid in 2006 in which Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit was captured. The Army of Islam later broke with Hamas and kidnapped British journalist Alan Johnston in 2007, holding him for four months before releasing him under Hamas pressure. Jaysh al-Islam and Hamas fought a bloody battle in 2008 that weakened the Salafi group, believed to comprise several hundred members. It is believed to be led by the powerful Doghmosh clan. ARMY OF THE NATION Jaysh Al-Ummah endorses al Qaeda ideology. It has openly criticised Hamas rule in the Gaza Strip, leading to the arrest of its leader, Abu Hafs and many of his men. It is believed to number about dozens of members. JAJALAT Jaljalt, or "War Cry", is thought to have some dozens of members. The group, which includes former Hamas men, endorses jihadist Salafi ideology and is believed to be in alliance with Jund Ansar Allah. THE RIGHTEOUS SWORDS OF ISLAM Syyuf Al-Haq Al-Islamia is believed to have carried out bombings of Internet cafes in the Gaza Strip about three years ago, but it apparently ceased operations in 2007. (Writing by Nidal al-Mughrabi; Editing by Sophie Hares) (For analysis on Qaeda challenge to Hamas, click on [nLG277063], for blogs and links on Israeli and Palestinian news, go to http://blogs.reuters.com/axismundi)
An Israeli security guard watches as a Palestinian woman holds up her child in front of a house during a rally in Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood in East Jerusalem August 15, 2009, ...
