Ismail Haniyeh, Chairman of Hamas’s Political Bureau, called on Thursday for Arabs and Muslims to engage in “general mobilization” across the globe on Friday and urged for sympathizers of the terror organization in nearby countries to march toward the Jewish state’s borders, according to the Jerusalem Post.
Haniyeh’s call to action comes as Israel prepares to expand its military operations in Gaza against Hamas, which launched a shocking terror attack on the Jewish state on October 7 that has left more than 1,400 people dead and another 3,400 people wounded. Terrorists took 203 hostages into Gaza and over 100 people are still considered missing, with 30 captives believed to be children.
WATCH — Man Rips Posters Featuring Israeli Kidnapping Victims at University of Pennsylvania Campus:
Last week, Hamas called on Muslims worldwide to hold a “Day of Jihad,” or holy war, on October 13th.
“We declare next Friday, ‘The Friday of the Al-Aqsa Flood,’ as a day of general mobilization in our Arab and Islamic world and among the free people of the world,” the terror group said on October 10, according to Middle East Media Research Institute (MEMRI).
“It is a day to rally support, offer aid, and participate actively. It is a day to expose the crimes of the occupation, isolate it, and foil all its aggressive schemes. It is a day to demonstrate our love for Palestine, Jerusalem, and Al-Aqsa,” the terror group added. “It is a day for sacrifice, heroism, and dedication, and to earn the honor of defending the first Qibla of Muslims, the third holiest mosque, and the ascension of the trusted Messenger.”
Hamas’s call for a global “Day of Jihad” sent a chill down the spines of Jews around the world. The call prompted the New York City Police Department (NYPD) to direct all officers to report for duty in uniform on the 13th. Some Jewish schools chose not to open on Friday, citing advice received from security firms they employ.
Members of the Joint Task Force Empire Shield patrol Grand Central Station on October 13, 2023, in New York City. Security has increased in New York City in the wake of the Hamas attack on Israel and after a former leader of Hamas called for Friday the 13th to be a global Jihad day. (Stephanie Keith/Getty Images)
“This isn’t about Israel — it’s about Jews. And that’s what’s so horrifying,” one parent told the New York Post.
Meanwhile, outrage against Israel has risen in recent days after the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) was falsely accused of launching an airstrike on the Al-Ahli hospital in Gaza City.
Initial reports, which originated from Hamas, claimed the strike on the hospital was carried out by Israel. Several corporate media outlets and lawmakers, namely Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-MI), amplified such reports:
Israel just bombed the Baptist Hospital killing 500 Palestinians (doctors, children, patients) just like that. @POTUS this is what happens when you refuse to facilitate a ceasefire & help de-escalate.
Your war and destruction only approach has opened my eyes and many… https://t.co/mZYoifT7bj
— Rashida Tlaib (@RashidaTlaib) October 17, 2023
WATCH — Media Repeat Hamas Propaganda on Hospital Blast; Israel Shows Evidence Terrorist Rocket Responsible:
Joel B. Pollak / Breitbart News
The IDF launched an investigation into the explosion and quickly concluded the hospital had been hit by a Palestinian rocket by the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ). Later, IDF spokesman Lt. Col. (res.) Jonathan Conricus, speaking to CNN, further elaborate on Israel’s findings, which showed the Jewish state was not responsive for the blast:
Telling @wolfblitzer that we stand by our claim, which is based on intelligence and a thorough review, that a rocket fired by the Islamic Jihad hit the Al Ahli Hospital last evening. Hamas tries to use every humanitarian event in its information warfare campaign. pic.twitter.com/jfmVgKY31N
— Jonathan Conricus (@jconricus) October 18, 2023
While in Israel, President Joe Biden said he concurred with the IDF’s assessment, citing data presented to him by the Department of Defense.
“Based on the information we have seen today it appears the result of an errant rocket fired by a terrorist group in Gaza,” Biden said.
Nonetheless, the false claim against Israel sparked angry mobs throughout the Middle East and North Africa, which targeted Israeli, American, and other Western embassies. Additionally, a mob took to the streets of the Jordanian capital of Amman and attempted to force their way into the Israeli embassy.
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