Gaza factions call on Palestinians to defend al-Aqsa
A collective of Gaza Strip resistance groups on Wednesday called on their followers to defend the al-Aqsa Mosque as tensions are running high across Israel and the West Bank.
"We are following developments and will make decisions to protest the Palestinian people and the holy place," the groups said in a statement following a meeting led by Hamas chief Yahya Sinwar.
We call on our people in the West Bank, Al-Quds and occupied territories to pray at al-Aqsa Mosque this coming Friday, and call on the Palestinian resistance to stay vigilant and be prepared to defend the mosque, the statement reads.
The factions met to draw up the rules of engagement with Israel in the wake of recent, near-daily raids in the West Bank following a series of attacks on Israeli soil and calls by Israeli right-wing activists to offer an animal sacrifice on the Al-Aqsa mosque during Passover.