As Ramadan approaches, starting this weekend, Hamas is aiming to spark a wave of terrorist attacks in Jerusalem and on the Temple Mount.
On Thursday, Harun Nasser al-Din, the head of Hamas's "Jerusalem Office," who is currently abroad, declared that there must be "full confrontation against the occupation's incursions, an uprising against its projects, and no surrender to attempts at Judaization and expulsion." A senior Hamas official echoed this call, urging an escalation of "resistance in all its forms in Jerusalem", a clear incitement to terrorist attacks.
Nasser al-Din also referenced the demolition of illegal structures in Jerusalem, promoting propaganda messages that accuse Israel of implementing "malicious plans for expulsion and Judaization projects." He further emphasized that "all plans and schemes will be shattered by the escalation of the resistance in all its forms."
Photo: AFP
Throughout the week, Hamas has seized on Israeli police recommendations to limit the number of Muslim worshippers allowed at Al-Aqsa Mosque during Ramadan, proposing a cap of 10,000 people at a time.
In response, the terrorist organization declared that restricting the number of worshippers constitutes "a dangerous escalation and precedent aimed at undermining freedom of worship at Al-Aqsa Mosque." Hamas further warned Israel about "the consequences of implementing these recommendations," stating that Israel would bear full responsibility for any resulting escalation.
Hostage deal and ceasefire extension considered
At the same time, Hamas is not ruling out an extension of the first phase of the hostage deal and the ceasefire in Gaza. If additional phases proceed, they will coincide with the volatile period of Ramadan, which has seen escalations in the past.
Overnight, 642 terrorists were released as part of the deal, including individuals who were freed from prison and sent to East Jerusalem. This marks the conclusion of the first phase of the ceasefire agreement, during which 33 hostages were returned, including eight who were declared dead.
Hamas spokesman Abd al-Latif al-Qanoua told the Al-Araby channel this morning that "the organization is ready to extend the first phase of the hostage deal or merge the two phases according to red lines." He further claimed that "the first phase of the agreement has been completed and the terrorist organization upheld all its commitments despite Israel's 'ongoing stalling.'" Hamas has set several conditions for the second phase, including a permanent end to the war in Gaza and a full withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Strip.
