On August 6, 2006 Al Jazeera broadcast a video in which Ayman al-Zawahiri claimed that al-Gamaa al-Islamiya (GI) had joined Al-Qa’ida. The video also included Muhammad Khalil al-Hakaymah—a player in Egyptian Islamist movements since 1979—swearing allegiance to Al-Qa’ida on behalf of the Egyptian group. Arab observers believe that Al-Hakaymah will play an increasingly significant role in Al-Qa’ida because of his expertise on the United States security community and disillusionment with GI.
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