On Thursday afternoon, the flag parade in Jerusalem will begin on the traditional route and this year the security system is preparing for a record number of participants. Several situation assessments were held and late Wednesday night the Israel Defense Forces completed a full deployment of air defense systems in all layers of defense for any scenario that could develop.
Israeli officials sent clear messages to Hamas and warned them not to try to turn the Jerusalem Day parade into a military confrontation. In repeated messages, Hamas replied that for them the Temple Mount is a "red line" and if Israel tries to violate the status quo on the Temple Mount, Hamas will not stand by.
Hamas issued a warning to Israel this morning, apparently they’ve seen enough storming for today.
— Jay Engelmayer (@jengelmayer) May 18, 2023
It’s most likely chest beating but you never know with them. pic.twitter.com/A05ian6KYf
Similar voices were heard from terrorist organizations in Judea and Samaria and Palestinian factions that claim to be based in Lebanon and spread the messages through social networks. The security establishment does not recognize any concrete intentions to fire missiles, but they do recognize two trends; the first, is wild incitement by Hamas in Gaza to carry out attacks in Judea and Samaria, and Jerusalem. The second expectation is the remote activation of Iranian bots to disrupt the territory through social networks.
Hundreds of incitement posts were located by the Israeli security establishment in order to monitor attempts to carry out terrorist attacks on Jerusalem Day. There is also high tension in the Temple Mount area in order to prevent provocations by Palestinians and East Jerusalem Arabs who will try to confront the police and distribute videos on the internet that simulate riots on the Mount for the purpose of igniting the area.
Hamas spokesman Abd al-Latif al-Qanou: “Our battle with Israel over the identity of the Al-Aqsa Mosque remains open & ongoing. We call on all to mobilize and defend Al-Aqsa and escalate the different arenas.” Meanwhile hundreds of Jews have visited the Temple Mount so far today.” pic.twitter.com/76BA9p7miW
— Ariel Oseran (@ariel_oseran) May 18, 2023
The police are also preparing to secure the marchers with more than 3000 policemen taking part in the mission which will begin Thursday morning with an increased presence in the capital. The real fear is actually an attack inside Jerusalem such as a run-over attack, a stabbing attack, or a shooting attack, and perhaps even an attack as a result of a bomb planted ahead of time. The security system has made many preventive arrests of people who often incite rioting on social media, clarifying to them the severity of their actions.
NOTE to Hamas: You do not get to dictate where we march, ever. Let alone in our capital, #Jerusalem!
— Arsen Ostrovsky (@Ostrov_A) May 18, 2023
Regards,
Israel pic.twitter.com/gmMclmJTNJ
Meanwhile, the Palestinian factions in Gaza informed Egyptian officials that "the provocations on the ground, and the attempt to change the status quo, will not go by with no response. The belief in Israel that the resistance in Gaza cannot start a new round is wrong, we are monitoring what is happening in Jerusalem, and we have the right to protect the Al-Aqsa Mosque. The Palestinians in Jerusalem and the West Bank are the mosque's first line of defense." The Palestinian factions also added that "if the extremists take steps that threaten the status quo in Jerusalem, all scenarios are open, including firing missiles from different fronts."
