Defense Minister Benny Gantz warned Palestinians in the Gaza Strip on Tuesday that steps Israel has taken to boost its economy are being threatened by terror groups ramping up incitement and launching rockets attacks.
There have been violent clashes between Palestinians and police in recent days at the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, which sits atop the Temple Mount in Jerusalem’s Old City. Israel has accused terror groups of inciting the clashes over what it says are false claims that the long-standing policy of not allowing Jews to pray in the area has been changed.
“As I have also told leaders from countries in the region, we are maintaining the status quo on the Temple Mount, and we will not allow terrorists or provocateurs to harm the holy places,” Gantz said during a tour of a Border Police base in the West Bank.
Many Jews head to the Western Wall and the Old City during the current weeklong Passover holiday. Non-Muslims can only visit the Temple Mount during certain hours and are officially barred from praying at the site, which is considered the holiest in Judaism and the third-holiest in Islam.
However, recent reports have shown that police sometimes turn a blind eye to such prayers taking place.
In a statement released by his office, Gantz mentioned a rocket attack from Gaza on southern Israel on Monday evening. “Yesterday, the Israel Defense Forces struck Gaza following [rocket] fire into Israeli territory, for which Hamas leaders are responsible,” he said.
“The IDF is ready with a wide range of means and targets, to ensure that peace and stability will continue,” Gantz warned.
“If the incitement and [rocket] fire continue, the terror organizations will be severely harmed, as will the residents of Gaza, who are currently benefiting from the moves we have taken to develop the economy,” Gantz added.
Gantz’s comments came as various Palestinian factions in the Gaza Strip were set to hold an emergency meeting, according to the Safa news agency, which is close to the Hamas terror group.
Citing an unnamed source, the agency said the “urgent” meeting was to be held at the office of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar. The report said the source refused to disclose the reasons for the meeting, but it came amid the heightened tensions in Jerusalem, and following airstrikes in the coastal enclave over the rocket attack.
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