Security measures strengthened in Jerusalem today, March 7, in view of the first Friday of the month of Ramadan, sacred for Muslims, while The tension remains high around the crisis in Gaza, with the ceased the fire that appears more and more in the balance. About 3 thousand agents will be lined up today to guarantee the order on the esplanade of the mosques (a place that the Jews call Monte del Tempio), in the old city of Jerusalem. According to local media, access to the esplanade for Friday prayer, a ‘delicate’ appointment which with the crisis in Gaza takes on even more relevance for Muslims, will be limited to 10 thousand faithful.
The esplanade of the mosques – which is in the custody of Jordan, while Israel is responsible for security – is a complex where the rock dome and Al Aqsa mosque are located, the third most important sacred place for Muslims after Mecca and Medina. In the past in this sensitive place there were violence during the month of Ramadan.
Defense Minister Katz: “Release kidnapped or we’ll hang up”
Meanwhile, the Israeli defense minister, Israel Katz, has threatened to start the war against Gaza with “an intensity never seen” if the Israeli hostages still in the strip should not be released. Katz has assured that all prisoners will return home, including those killed “by the cowardly people of the Gaza Strip”, reports the Times of Israel.
“The agreement of the fire with the murderer Hamas and the heavy prices that Israel has paid, and is willing to continue to pay, in the context of its implementation, they aim to obtain the rapid release of all the Israeli hostages still alive, which are held in the hardest conditions in Gaza, and to bring all the hostages that are not alive for the burial in Israel – said Katz. Fights will end with two clear results: the release of all our hostages and the defeat of Hamas “.
IDF: “Ready to New Escalation against Hamas”
The Israeli army is preparing to return to fight ” against Hamas militants in the Gaza strip. The new Israeli army chief of the staff, Eyal Zamir, said this on his first day in office. Meeting the Israeli communities who live on the border with the Gaza strip, Zamir said that “We have to defeat Hamas. We are also preparing to resume fighting. The hostages are our maximum priority “.
Hamas warns: “If you attach we will kill other hostages”
The Hamas spokesman, Abu Obeida, warned that any Israeli military escalation against the terrorist group will most likely lead to the killing of other hostages. Obeida added that the Israeli threats of war and blocking of aid will not lead to the release of the hostages and reiterated that the terrorist group is still committed to respecting the respite with Israel, whose first phase has just ended.