The call comes in the wake of Arab riots in Jerusalem during the last several days and amid renewed rocket fire on Israeli communities from the Gaza Strip.

In a bulletin released on Sunday, Hamas said that the various armed groups in Gaza should “close ranks … and continue to gather in the Old City of Jerusalem and preserve the prayers at the Al-Aqsa Mosque.”

Hamas continued by praising the factions for “coping with the oppressive Zionist regime through determination” and added that they must “stay with the finger on the trigger by preparing the missiles and training them on the enemy’s bastions and essential military installations.”

The statement comes in the wake of violent Arab riots over the past several days and amid renewed rocket fire on Israeli communities from the Gaza Strip.

Hamas went on to call on the factions to “reach the Al-Aqsa Mosque and hold prayers in front of the military checkpoints that are preventing entry to Jerusalem. You must hold a presence all over Palestine during the night and make sure the settlers don’t infiltrate. We must confuse the Zionists.”

(Israel Hayom).