The head of Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas
called Thursday for fresh protests across the world against US President
Donald Trump’s controversial recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s
capital.
“We demand the Islamic world make every Friday a day of
anger and revolution in every capital and city until we bring down
Trump’s decision,” Ismail Haniya said.
“We ask churches, the Pope and our Christian brothers to devote their Sunday prayers to Jerusalem,” he added.
Speaking in front of tens of thousands of supporters in
Hamas-run Gaza at an event to commemorate the Islamist movement’s 30th
anniversary, Haniya railed against Trump’s December 6 announcement that
he would move his country’s embassy to Jerusalem and recognise the city
as Israel’s capital.
“We will bring down Trump’s decision once and for all,” he added.
The event was attended by major Hamas figures as well as
politicians from other political parties, including longtime rivals
Fatah.
The two signed an October reconciliation agreement that
was supposed to see Hamas hand over control in Gaza by December 1, but
the deal has faltered.
Hamas seized control of Gaza from Fatah in 2007 and has fought three wars with Israel since.
Since Trump’s controversial announcement last week, at least 12 rockets or mortars have been fired from Gaza towards IsraelIn response the Jewish state’s army has hit at least 10 targets in Gaza, mostly Hamas bases.
Protests in other parts of the Palestinian territories, as
well as across the Arab world, have broken out since Trump’s
announcement.