Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad, other groups, threaten violence during Ramadan

Amid the current escalation of terror attacks in Israel during the month of Ramadan continues, officials in Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) threaten a large-scale and imminent explosion of violence.

According to a report by the Middle East Media Research Institute (MEMRI), they say this explosion will take place on all fronts—in the West Bank, the Gaza Strip and “the 1948 territories.”

The officials also reiterated that Ramadan is the month of jihad, martyrdom and great conquests in Islam.

Hamas official Khaled Mashal said the coming period would be difficult for Israel. PIJ official Ahmad Al-Mudallal said Israel’s fears regarding Ramadan are being realized.

An article posted on the Hamas website on March 30 stated: “The leader of the Hamas movement abroad, Khaled Mashaal, said that the coming month of Ramadan will be difficult and will hold surprises because the enemy is trying to enforce quiet in exchange for nothing while continuing its raids and attacks.”

An April 1, Hamas announcement on the website, marking Ramadan, stated: “We congratulate our people and our nation on the occasion of the beginning of the blessed month of Ramadan and express a wish for the days of Ramadan to be days of good deeds, deployment on the battlefront [ribat] and resistance to expel the occupation and defend Jerusalem and Al-Aqsa [mosque].”