Another instance of a Hamas threat occurs as Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh has warned Israel that Hamas will use “all capabilities” against Israelis if they conduct the Jerusalem Day “Flag March” in the Old City next week. The threat comes just a year after Hamas fired rockets when the event took place.

“I want to clearly warn the enemy against committing these crimes and these steps. The Palestinian people, led by the resistance - especially those in the West Bank and Jerusalem - will not permit this Jewish, Talmudic rubbish to go unanswered.

Our decision is clear and unhesitating… We will resist with all our capabilities and we will not permit the violation of the Al-Aqsa Mosque or thuggery in the streets of Jerusalem.”

Haniyeh said.

The march has been rescheduled for May 29th after being announced by Public Security Minister Omer Barlev. Marchers will walk along Jaffa Street to Damascus Gate and will continue into the Old City through Hagai Street and finish at the Western Wall. The issues arise as Hagai Street happens to be in the Muslim Quarter of Jerusalem.

Cabinet approval must be given for the plan as the announcement sparked controversy in the coalition. Obviously, the move would spark another escalation to an already shit situation with Palestinian terror groups.

In 1967, the Six Day War occurred and Israel managed to control the Old City and East Jerusalem after being held under Jordanian control. This is why Jerusalem Day is celebrated by Jewish youths. Typical celebrations consist of marching through the capital while dancing with Israeli flags.

The march last year sent tensions wild. The Israeli police had clashed with Palestinians on the Temple Mount holy site during the final days of the Ramadan holy month as well as the looming fear that Palestinians would be evicted from East Jerusalem’s Sheikh Jarrah neighborhoods.

In 2021, the march was rerouted and police were placed across the Old City in an attempt to prevent Israeli marchers from reaching Damascus Gate. Even as these limitations were set, Hamas still fired rockets toward Jerusalem sending marchers to cover. The following consequence was an 11-day war between Israel and Al-Qassam and since then Hamas has continuously vowed to never allow Israel to repeat the rally.

“Our people will absolutely not allow Israel to break the rules of engagement and to allow a return to provocations.”

A masked spokesperson told those gathered in Gaza where Haniyeh was speaking.

Concerns surrounding the celebration don’t only fall with Hamas’ threats, but also the fact that the bloodiest violence outside of war has been experienced since March 22. There has been a massive wave of terror attacks in Israeli cities which has killed 19 individuals.

30 Palestinians were killed as well during Israeli counter-raids in the West Bank in this period. This is the time in which Al Jazeera journalist Shireen Abu Akleh was killed. This violence once again overlapped the Ramadan holy month and Palestinians and the Israeli police have clashed multiple times at the Temple Mount site.

In my opinion, the organizers may be instigators as the original event plan was to enter the Old City through Damascus Gate and directly march into the Muslim Quarter before making it to the Western Wall. Israeli police smartly blocked off participants from heading to the Old City via Damascus Gate. The day ultimately passed without an attack by the Gaza terror group.