In Gaza, the Islamic Hamas movement has warned Israel not to renew tension in the Palestinian territories although a Jerusalem flag march scheduled for Thursday is reported to have been called off.
Khalil al-Hayya, a senior leader in Gaza said, “Hamas warns the occupier (Israel), the mediators and the entire world against the flag march through the Old City and al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem,”
He further said referring to the latest round of the 11-day fierce fighting between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, “Hamas’ message is clear: we don’t want the Thursday event to be like what happened after May 10,”
The combat Gaza broke out on 10th May following clashes between the Israeli police and Palestinian worshipers in East Jerusalem during the Muslim fasting and holy month of Ramadan.
A decision by an Israeli court to evict Palestinian families from their homes in the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood of East Jerusalem is also seen as a reason behind the conflict.
Al- Hayya further said, “Jerusalem for us is a red line. We are not fond of wars, but our resistance is ready to defend the holy city.”
Apart from Hamas, the chamber of the joint military operations in Gaza made up of Palestinian armed wings had also warned Israel not to escalate tension in East Jerusalem.
The chamber said, “We are closely monitoring the behavior of the enemy (Israel) in the holy city (Jerusalem), and we will have our word if the enemy decides to bring the situation back to what was before the 11th May”.
According to the media reports in Israel, the Jerusalem flag march on Thursday had been called off after the police rejected the organizers’ request for a march through the Old City’s Damascus Gate.
