“Military Intelligence warned that Hamas would fire rockets on Jerusalem and that the country might find itself at war with the terror group.”
“A month before Hamas launched its rockets in this latest round of fighting, military intelligence (AMAN) recognized that the narrative on Jerusalem as well as the canceled Palestinian elections had inflamed the Palestinian streets.”
“AMAN also recognized that the barricades set up by the Israel police at Damascus Gate preventing people from sitting in the plaza and the cry by Hamas military leader Mohammed Dief to come “rescue” Jerusalem only further escalated the tension.”
“Compounded with Jerusalem Day and its contentious flag parade and looming eviction of dozens of Palestinians from their homes in the east Jerusalem neighborhood of Sheikh Jarrah, military police recommended several precautions. One of them being moving the route of the parade.”
“Dief, the military commander of the Izzadin al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas, on Monday threatened Israel with an ultimatum, warning that the group would attack if Israeli security forces did not leave the Temple Mount and Sheikh Jarrah by 6 p.m.”
“The police did not leave and the rockets came as thousands of Israelis were parading through downtown celebrating Jerusalem Day.”
“An assessment by AMAN found that Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar chose to fire the rockets despite not wanting a war with Israel. The firing of the rockets was a risk that he was willing to take because it showed that the terror group would defend Jerusalem and the Palestinian people.”
“Nevertheless, the launching of the rockets has led to a massive bombardment of strategic assets belonging to the group, as well as the killing of senior commanders, some of them said to be irreplaceable.”
“While neither side wants the fighting to deteriorate into a war with a ground incursion by IDF forces, Hamas has enough rockets to continue firing for at least two months.”
Read more: IDF Military Intelligence knew Hamas would fire on Jerusalem
2021-week20
