RECOMMENDED READING: “Hamas Praises Recent Terror Attacks In Israel, Calls For Escalation And Launch Of New Intifada, Threatens: ‘The Palestinian Volcano Will… Erupt In Occupation’s Face'”
MEMRI has issued a report titled “Hamas Praises Recent Terror Attacks In Israel, Calls For Escalation And Launch Of New Intifada, Threatens: ‘The Palestinian Volcano Will… Erupt In Occupation’s Face’” that looks at incitement by Hamas in connection with the attack on a synagogue in Jerusalem that left four dead. The report begins:
Hamas
November 19, 2014 The wave of violence and terror taking place in Jerusalem and elsewhere in Israel in the past weeks has been welcomed and encouraged by Hamas. Taking advantage of rumors that Israel intends to change the status-quo at Al-Aqsa mosque, the movement called to oppose the occupation by every means. Hamas spokesmen praised the attacks, saying that they were a spontaneous and natural response to Israel’s actions in Al-Aqsa, and called the attackers, some of whom were members of the movement or affiliated with it, ‘heroic martyrs’ and models of courage and creativity, urging other Palestinians to follow their example and continue the attacks. Articles in Hamas newspapers and websites likewise glorified the violence and promised that the future would see attacks even more devastating and creative. Some also emphasized that the war underway today is a religious war, not a political one. In addition, Hamas is making efforts to expand the unrest in Jerusalem to the West Bank and fan it into a new intifada. Its spokesmen are directing harsh criticism at the Palestinian Authority (PA), demanding that it halt the security coordination with Israel and allow the Palestinian public to voice its protest, resist the occupation and launch the ‘Al-Aqsa and Jerusalem Intifada.’ This paper reviews the efforts of Hamas spokesmen and media aimed at escalating the unrest in Jerusalem and elsewhere in the name of defending the Al-Aqsa mosque.”
The GMBDW reported earlier this month on on statements by the Hamas military wing that it is preparing and equipping itself for a larger war with Israel using the current conflict over the Al-Aqsa Mosque as a raison d’etre. That post also reported that that Hamas had said that the Palestinian motorist who ran over group of Israeli pedestrians in East Jerusalem, killing one and injuring others, was a member of Hamas and the brother of a Palestinian released by Israel as part of the Gilad Shalit prisoner swap deal in 2011.
