Tel Aviv, Israel
“We want to frighten the Israelis with the images of massive crowds of people who peaceably gather and sit close to the border,” Hamas spokesman Ahmed Abu Retaima said. “We are working to bring out more than 100,000 people for the march.”
The announcement comes amid growing tensions over President Donald Trump’s December recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and a U.S peace plan that has yet to see the light of day. Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, who has cut off all contact with the White House since December, this week called U.S. Ambassador David Friedman a “son of a dog,” a slur Friedman said carried an air of anti-Semitism. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu tweeted that Palestinian leaders — used to being “spoiled” by U.S. administrations — were “losing their cool.”
Israeli authorities are bracing for escalation beginning on March 30, when Hamas will begin building tent camps along Gaza’s 25-mile border with Israel. Six weeks later, Palestinians plan a mass march toward the border, defying warnings from Israeli officials — who doubt the march will remain peaceful — to stay 100 meters from the fence.
Hamas’ planned march comes amid a surge in violence in recent weeks. Palestinians, who demand the eastern part of Jerusalem as their own capital, have been storming the Gaza fence and attacking Israeli soldiers, drawing retaliatory fire and airstrikes. Several Israelis have been killed in stabbing and car-ramming attacks in Jerusalem and the West Bank.
Trump’s envoys have continued preparing their peace plan and say they will present it when the time is right.