Hamas warns Israel over controversial Al-Quds flag march

Hamas, the ruling movement of Gaza, on Monday warned Israel not to renew tension in the Palestinian territories. However, an Al-Quds (Jerusalem) flag march scheduled for Thursday is reported to have been called off.

"Hamas warns the occupier (Israel), the mediators and the entire world against the flag march through the Old City and al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem," Khalil al-Hayya, a senior Hamas leader in Gaza, told reporters.
   
"Hamas' message is clear: we don't want the Thursday event to be like what happened after May 10," he added, referring to the latest round of 11-day fierce fighting between Israel and Hamas.
   
The fighting between Israel and Hamas-led militant groups in Gaza broke out on May 10 following clashes between the Israeli police and Palestinian worshipers in East Al-Quds during the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan.
   
An Israeli court's decision to evict Palestinian families from their homes in the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood of Al-Quds was also behind the clashes and ensuing fighting.
   
"Al-Quds for us is a red line. We are not fond of wars, but our resistance is ready to defend the holy city," al-Hayya said.
   
Meanwhile, the chamber of the joint military operations in Gaza, which comprises Palestinian armed wings including Hamas, warned Israel not to escalate tension in East Al-Quds.
   
"We are closely monitoring the behavior of the enemy (Israel) in the holy city (Al-Quds), and we will have our word if the enemy decides to bring the situation back to what was before May 11," the Chamber said in a press statement sent to reporters.
   
Earlier in the day, the Israeli media reported that the Al-Quds flag march on Thursday had been called off after the Israeli police rejected the organizers' request for a march through the Old City's Damascus Gate.