Israel warns Hamas not to disrupt Jerusalem Day Flag March

Israel has warned the Hamas terrorist organization that any attempt to commit acts of terrorism during the Jerusalem Day Flag March next week would be met with a harsh response, one day after Hamas threatened that the annual celebration of the reunification of Jerusalem would cross the terrorist group's red lines, Channel 12 News reported.

According to the report, the warning was delivered via Egypt, and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has decided that the Flag March will be held as usual. However, the march's route will not include the Arab Quarter of the Old City of Jerusalem.

Hamas has used the Flag March in recent years as a pretext for violence. In 2021, the terror organization launched six rockets at Jerusalem on Jerusalem Day, sparking Operation Guardian of the Walls, and an 11-day conflict between terrorist groups in Gaza and Israel.

Yesterday, Hamas spokesperson Abdul Latif al-Qanoua issued a threatening message to Israel over the Flag March.

"The Flag March in Jerusalem will not change the reality, we will maintain the equation as imposed by the resistance," al-Qanoua said.

The Hamas spokesman added: "Jerusalem will remain the capital of Palestine. We will not allow the Zionist occupation to carry out its plans to Judaize the Al Aqsa Mosque or the city of Jerusalem through division, sacrifices, or 'Flag Marches.' The Palestinian people will continue to protect the Al Aqsa Mosque and will continue to thwart any attempt to expand Zionist control over Jerusalem."