Hamas calls on Palestinians for Ramadan march to Al-Aqsa Mosque

(Patria) - Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh on Wednesday called on Palestinians to march to Jerusalem's Al-Aqsa Mosque at the start of Ramadan, Reuters reported.

The Al-Aqsa compound in the old city of Jerusalem, one of the holiest sites in the world for Muslims and the holiest for Jews, has long been a flashpoint for potential violence, especially during religious holidays. Given the war in Gaza, Israel has said it could impose restrictions on prayers at Al-Aqsa during Ramadan, in line with security assessments. Many Palestinians reject any such restrictions on their access to the site.

"This is a call to our people in Jerusalem and the West Bank to march to Al-Aqsa from the first day of Ramadan," Haniyeh said.

Israeli government spokesperson Tal Heirich accused the Hamas leader of "trying to drag us into wars on other fronts." Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said Hamas's goal is to take pressure off its fighters in Gaza by forcing Israel to shift security resources to Jerusalem and the West Bank.

In a televised speech, Haniyeh said Hamas is showing flexibility in negotiations with Israel, but is simultaneously ready to continue fighting. Israel has said any deal with Hamas would require the group to abandon what Israel describes as "unusual demands."

In the most serious effort so far for an extended ceasefire, Hamas is considering a proposal, which Israel agreed with mediators in Paris last week, for a 40-day truce. A source close to the talks said the Paris text states that Israeli troops will withdraw from populated areas and that around 40 hostages will be released, including women, those under 19 or over 50, and the injured, in exchange for around 400 Palestinian prisoners.

Haniyeh also called on the "Axis of Resistance," Iran's allies, including Lebanon's Hezbollah, Yemen's Houthis and the Islamic Resistance in Iraq, as well as Arab states, to step up their support for Palestinians in Gaza who are suffering under Israeli attacks and blockade.

"It is the duty of Arab and Islamic peoples to take the initiative to break the conspiracy of starvation in Gaza," he said.