Embracing the terrorist who killed three Israelis and injured a dozen others at a bar in Tel Aviv Thursday, the al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades – the military wing of the Fatah movement – announced a "military operation" of its own to counteract the IDF's Operation Breakwater, which was launched in response to the latest spate of terror attacks.
Follow Israel Hayom on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram
The group warned against attempts by Israeli forces to enter Palestinian cities and refugee camps in the West Bank and Jerusalem, vowing to respond with bombings and killings that "the entire world would hear."
Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas condemned the attack, cautioning that continued killings of Israelis and Palestinians would only cause the security situation to deteriorate.
"We aspire to secure stability, especially during the month of Ramadan and the Christian and Jewish holidays," a statement by Abbas' office read.
Nevertheless, the PA leader warned about "repeated incursions into Al-Aqsa Mosque and provocations by groups of extremist settlers" and said that "violence underscores that a comprehensive, just peace is the best and shortest way to ensuring security and stability for both peoples and the other peoples in the region."
While the Palestinian leader officially condemned the attack, his Fatah movement welcomed it and blamed Israel for the recent escalation. The al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, in turn, gave out candy on the streets to "celebrate" Thursday's attack and praised Ra'ad Hazem, the perpetrator, as a "martyr."
Similarly, protests were held at the Al-Aqsa Compound in Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip in support of Hazem on Friday, during which participants criticized Abbas for condemning the attack, calling him a "traitor" and vowing revenge.
Meanwhile, following a situational assessment, Defense Minister Benny Gantz said on Saturday that the IDF operations in the Palestinian territories would increase in the coming days.
Gantz made the statement following a situational assessment after a morning raid by the IDF in the West Bank city of Jenin, Hazem's place of residence.
The defense minister thanked the soldiers operating over the weekend, and in particular for the operational activities carried out in Jenin, emphasizing that "defensive and offensive operations will continue and grow in intensity everywhere."
i24NEWS contributed to this report.
Subscribe to Israel Hayom's daily newsletter and never miss our top stories!
