Osama Bin Laden Urges Muslims to Launch Jihad Against Israel Over Gaza Offensive

Al-Qaida's top leader, Osama bin Laden has urged Muslims to launch a jihad, or holy war, against Israel over their actions in Gaza. Further attempting to stir the angry emotions of Muslims in the Middle East, bin Laden also condemned Arab governments as allies of the Jewish state in his latest message.

An audiotape, which was named "Call for jihad to stop the aggression on Gaza", was posted Wednesday on Islamic militant web sites where al-Qaida typically releases its messages. This was bin Laden's first taped message since May, coming nearly three weeks after Israel began its violent campaign against Gaza's militant Hamas rulers.

In the 22-minute audio tape, bin Laden said:

"There is only one strong way to bring the return of Al-Aqsa and Palestine, and that is jihad in the path of God. The duty is to urge people to jihad and to enlist the youth into jihad brigades.

Muslim nation, you are capable of defeating the Zionist entity with your popular capabilities and your great hidden strength - without the support of [Arab] leaders and despite the fact that most of [the leaders] stand in the barracks of the Crusader-Zionist alliance."

In addition to calling for jihad, bin Laden accused Arab leaders of "avoiding their responsibility" to free Palestine. "If you are not convinced to fight, then open the way to those who are convinced," he quipped.

The tapes authenticity could not yet be independently confirmed, however, the voice on the tape did resemble that of bin Laden as he spoke in previous messages.

The tape was played over a still picture of bin Laden and and the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem's Old City, which is considered one of Islam's most holiest sites.