Hamas: Jerusalem Remains The Center Of Conflict - Ready To Resume Attacks

Hamas' Haniyeh vows to destabilize Jerusalem, thanks Iran for support

 TOBIAS SIEGAL

Hamas will continue to "defend" Jerusalem, Ismail Haniyeh, head of the Hamas political bureau said Friday, as he was concluding the operation that saw more than 4,500 rockets and mortars launched toward Israeli territory. 

In a speech given Friday, hours after the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas came into effect, Haniyeh suggested that Hamas' current objective is to continue fueling the ongoing violence between Palestinians and security forces in the West Bank and in Jerusalem.

Haniyeh promised to continue "fighting for Jerusalem" and specifically mentioned "liberating the Al-Aqsa Mosque" in Jerusalem's Old City and the neighborhood of Sheikh Jarrah, where several Arab families currently face eviction.   

"Jerusalem remains the center of the conflict," he said, indicating that despite the ceasefire coming into effect, the reality is still highly volatile and suggesting that Hamas has no intention of stopping its effort to destabilize Israel by arranging and funding riots across the country and at the Al-Aqsa Mosque specifically.  

Essentially, Haniyeh confirmed the connection between the actions carried out by the terrorist organization in Gaza and the ongoing riots on the Temple Mount and throughout Jerusalem, claiming that the rockets launched from Gaza were meant "to defend Jerusalem." It should be mentioned in this regard that the first rockets launched from Gaza that led to the widescale IDF operation targeted Jerusalem. 

Addressing the two failed attempts by the IDF to assassinate Mohammed Deif, military chief of Hamas, Haniyeh referred to him as "the hero of Jerusalem," noting that "the millions who chanted his name during protests in Jerusalem don't know him, have never met him, but chose to call his name - because God chose him."     

According to N12, other Hamas officials have indicated throughout Friday that Hamas is ready to resume its attacks if necessary and will examine the possibility in the next few days. 

Haniyeh concluded his speech by thanking "the Islamic Republic of Iran; who did not hold back with money, weapons and technical support" and by suggesting that others will soon join. "We will use the aid of other Arab countries as well."