We actually love the "previously unknown group" trick - see: here and here and here, among others - because there are few things as transparently stupid that major media outlets nonetheless uncritically parrot. At least wild Palestinian fabrications about Israeli massacres are in the ballpark because there are days when Israeli soldiers and Palestinian terrorists exchange fire. But letting Hamas or Islamic Jihad or Fatah get away with atrocities just because they make up new superhero names every few weeks - really? And yet, here you go:

A hitherto unknown group called Mujahideen of Beit al-Makdes [Holy Warriors of Jerusalem] said its men were behind Thursday's rocket attack on the American International School in the Gaza Strip. The group said the school was targeted because it was "the last symbol of the US Administration and its allies in the Gaza Strip." The pre-dawn attack took place only hours before the meeting in Ramallah between US President George W. Bush and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas. The attack also came shortly after thousands of Hamas supporters staged protests in the Gaza Strip against Bush's visit. At least three gunmen participated in the attack, using a rocket-propelled grenade and live ammunition... Salem condemned the attack, noting it was the second of its kind in the past year. "The school's staff and students are all Palestinians, and we are licensed by the Ministry of Education," he said. "Our mission is purely educational and we are not related to any form of political activity." The previous attack on the American school occurred last April, when a group of masked gunmen set fire to some classrooms. The attack was then claimed by another radical Islamist group calling itself the Swords of Righteousness.

Of course it was. Because why would it be the same vaguely familiar and well-armed Palestinian group? It's all so confusing, you know?

As for the principal's confusion, obviously he's a little naive: education of any form is a political activity when you're dealing with nihilistic religious fanatics. And even if it wasn't, they've got "American" in the name of their school so maybe some children are going to have to die. Worst case, we write this off as another one of those vague "distractions" that the UN says undermine Gaza education.

References:
* Wherein We Imagine Palestinian Negotiations [MR]
* Yes, the Pope Is Catholic - Either You Believe 'The Pope Made Them Attack Churches' Or You Know History [MR]
* Prisoner Ploy is So Transparent It's Sick [MR]
* Unknown group claims Gaza RPG attack [JPost]
* UN: "Distractions" Are Causing Gaza Students To Flunk Math And Arabic [Videos] [MR]

Previously:
* AP's Ibrahim Barzak Publishes Least Subtle Anti-Isreal Bias Yet
* Memo to World - Israel Not Occupying Gaza Any More. Please Stop Using That Excuse.
* The Telegraph Celebrates, Excuses Palestinian Atrocities

Cross-posted to:
* Israpundit