Hamas Leader Tells Followers to ‘Ignite New Intifada’

The Palestinian resistance, better known as Hamas, called on a “new intifada” following U.S. President Donald Trump’s announcement that the U.S. would recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.

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"We should call for and we should work on launching an intifada in the face of the Zionist enemy," Ismail Haniyeh, the head of Hamas, said in a speech in Gaza City.

Haniyeh went on to describe the announcement by Trump as the end of a political era on the Palestinian issue.

The U.S. has called on Hamas to end its use of violence as a prerequisite for peace considerations, however Israel has continued a pattern of aggression in Gaza.

The leader called on the intifada to begin on Friday in a show of dissent against the controversial decision by the U.S.

Protests have swept across the Palestinian territories since Trump’s announcement, including in Gaza where nearly 250,000 protesters took to the streets.

"We must take decisions and build a new strategy to deal with the new plot against Palestine," Haniyeh said.

"The only way to deal with the Zionist policy, which has backing from the United States, is sparking a new intifada against the occupation and welcome resistance to this occupation," he continued.

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Haniyeh described the recognition of Jerusalem by the U.S. as provocative and “a declaration of war.”

In response to this, the leader indicated that members of Hamas are standing on high alert.

A spokesperson for Islamic Jihad, Daoud Shihab, also weighed in by urging Arab countries that maintain diplomatic relations with Israel to sever tie with the country, expel diplomats, and recall their own.

Israel has responded to these statements in kind by mobilizing troops near the West Bank.