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Source: http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/997280.html
Salafis in Gaza: A Religous Alternative to Hamas
[Ha'aretz ] Avi Issacharoff - The number of those praying at the A-Sahabah mosque in Gaza City - controlled by the salafis (believers) - has skyrocketed since Hamas' takeover of Gaza a year ago. Salafis, who have long beards and seek to imitate the ways of the prophet Mohammed, now number between 40,000 to 50,000 Gazans. They are not a political group, yet some Hamas members see them as a threat. Violent brawls have broken out over attempts by Hamas to throw salafis out of the mosques where they have taken control. The salafis' avoidance of politics makes Hamas look like a gang of power-hungry politicians, especially in light of its mistakes over the past year: the violent takeover, torture and corruption.