Special to WorldTribune.com

RAMALLAH — Hamas, under pressure from Egypt’s military, has threatened to renew war against Israel.

Hamas said it was preparing for an uprising against Israel that would include suicide attacks. In a statement, Hamas’ military wing, Izzedin Kassam, said the campaign against Israel was meant to save Jerusalem’s Temple Mount.

“We’re ready to teach the occupation a lesson in case it launches an attack against the Gaza Strip,” Izzedin Kassam spokesman Abu Obeida said.

The Hamas threat, issued on Sept. 26, was joined by Palestinian militias in the Gaza Strip. This included the Iranian-sponsored Islamic Jihad, said to have the largest long-range rocket arsenal in the strip.

“A new uprising should erupt against the Zionist enemy and we believe that our people have the will and ability to liberate Palestine from the river to the sea,” Jihad commander Ahmed Mudalal said.

Palestinian militias have sought to exploit protests by the Palestinian
Authority against the visit of Jews to the Temple Mount, which contains two
mosques more than 1,000 years old. The ruling Fatah militia also threatened
to launch rocket and other attacks on Israel.

On Sept. 28, the Israeli military, which approved unprecedented
construction shipments, acknowledged that Palestinian gunners from the Gaza
Strip fired at least one rocket into the Jewish state. The rocket was said
to have landed near the southern city of Ashkelon and no injuries were
reported.

  Abu Obeida, Gaza Strip, Hamas, Islamic Jihad threaten ‘new uprising’ against Israel, Izzedin Kassam, Temple Mount