Al-Qaida's clearest overture yet put Hamas in a bind. Hamas is in urgent need of outside help to provide for Gaza's 1.4 million Palestinians, following its mid-June takeover of the territory. Yet Hamas would deepen its international isolation, burn bridges to much of the Arab world and lose more popular support at home if it forms an open alliance with al-Qaida.

Hamas leaders suggested they will steer clear of al-Qaida, in line with the movement's long-standing position to focus on the conflict with Israel and not to join an international jihad, or holy war. Al-Qaida "is not the frame of reference for Hamas," said a senior Hamas official, Ahmed Yousef. "We have our own Muslim scholars, political leaders and military commanders who give us a strategy on how to deal with the (Israeli) occupation."

Al-Qaida's presence in the Palestinian territories has been a subject of intense speculation since the Sept. 11 attacks on the United States. Palestinian intelligence officials believe the group has formed some sleeper cells in Gaza and suspect possible al-Qaida involvement in several spectacular attacks on Palestinian security chiefs since 2004.

As early as 2003, an Israeli military court sentenced a Gaza man to 27 years in prison on charges he was recruited by al-Qaida in Afghanistan to form a network in the Palestinian territories.

Several al-Qaida-inspired groups have sprung up, including the so-called Army of Islam, which seized BBC journalist Alan Johnston in March and was also involved in the capture of Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit a year ago. Another group, the Sword of Islamic Justice, has bombed dozens of Internet and music shops to halt what it said was the spread of corrupt Western culture.

It appears these local groups, which have adopted al-Qaida jargon and symbols, are angling for support from al-Qaida, rather than being directed by it. "Most of the fighters (in Gaza) are local people who identify with al-Qaida, as opposed to real al-Qaida operatives, like we see in Iraq," said Hillel Frisch, an Israeli counterterrorism expert.

The groups consist largely of former Hamas followers, who broke away when Hamas started trying to transform itself into a political party and was no longer deemed radical enough.

In Paris, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said the response to al-Qaida is to back moderate Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, who is locked in a power struggle with Hamas, and to send humanitarian aid to the Palestinians. "Extremism in the Middle East, and unfortunately in the Palestinian territories continues, and extremists link up with extremists," she said.

In Johnston's case, the conflicting interests of Hamas and the Army of Islam became apparent this month. Hamas was pressing for Johnston's quick release, to try to reassure the international community after the Gaza takeover that it can rule and restore stability. However, the kidnappers held out for assurances that they won't have to disarm after they free the journalist.

The kidnappers released a video showing Johnston wearing what he described as a harness of explosives strapped to his body, of the type used by suicide bombers.

"Captors tell me that very promising negotiations were ruined when the Hamas movement and the British government decided to press for a military solution to this kidnapping," Johnston says in the recording, looking nervous and under stress.

"And the situation is now very serious, as you can see," he said, appealing to Britain and Hamas to resume negotiations.

Several hours later, the captors of Shalit released an audio message to mark the anniversary of his seizure at an army post near Gaza. Shalit appealed to the Israeli government to do more to win his freedom, saying his health is deteriorating. Egyptian-brokered negotiations over Shalit's release have broken down repeatedly.

The audio was posted on the Web site of the Hamas military wing, affirming that Hamas is the lead group among the kidnappers. However, the Army of Islam would have any say in any possible deal for Shalit's release.

Al-Qaida has repeatedly expressed support for the Palestinians, but Monday's audio by its deputy chief, Ayman al-Zawahri, was unusual because he offered practical assistance, and Hamas for the first time was in a position to seriously consider it.

"Provide them (Hamas) with money, do your best to get it there, break the siege imposed on them by crusaders and Arab leader traitors," said al-Zawahri, who is Osama bin Laden's top deputy, addressing Muslims around the world. "Facilitate weapons smuggling from neighboring countries."

"We can support them by targeting the crusader and Zionist interest wherever we can," al-Zawahri said.

His message appeared aimed at exploiting Hamas' gains and could fuel fears among Arab countries that Gaza will become a breeding ground for armed extremists.

However, Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri suggested that his group values its relations with the Arab world more than anything al-Qaida could offer. "In Hamas, we are concerned to have good relations with all Arab and Muslim powers, regardless of how close or far away we are in our own programs," he said.

Still, quiet cooperation between some Gaza militants and al-Qaida is increasingly possible. Smuggling tunnels run under the Gaza-Egypt border, and al-Zawahri specifically called on Bedouins in Egypt's Sinai Peninsula ¡ª implicated in three major attacks since 2004 and heavily involved in smuggling ¡ª to help Hamas.