Hamas to Palestinians: Take up arms to defend al-Aqsa against Israel

A top official of the Palestinian resistance movement Hamas says Palestinians must take up arms to protect the al-Aqsa Mosque compound in East al-Quds (Jerusalem), amid recent flare-up of tensions in and around the holy site.

“The only solution to defend the al-Aqsa Mosque and to prevent Israelis from carrying out their plans there is for West Bank and Jerusalem residents to take up arms,” Mahmud Zahar said in an interview posted on Hamas website.

Tensions have been on the rise in the occupied West Bank and al-Quds over the past several days, with Israeli forces attacking Palestinian protesters at the holy site.