“Hamas urges Palestinians: Rise up this Ramadan!”

Hamas has urged Palestinians in Israel and the West Bank to engage in confrontations against Israel throughout the forthcoming month of Ramadan. Osama Hamdan, a spokesman for Hamas, conveyed this message to journalists in Beirut, emphasizing the intention for Ramadan to be a period of continuous conflict.

Efforts by the United States, Qatar, and Egypt to establish a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in Gaza have been ongoing for weeks, aiming to secure the release of many hostages taken by Hamas during the conflict initiated on October 7.

These diplomatic efforts are pressing to achieve a truce before the onset of Ramadan, anticipated to start around March 10. Ramadan, a sacred time for Muslims involving fasting, prayer, and charity, often sees increased tensions over access to significant religious sites in Jerusalem.

Hamas has persistently advocated for an uprising in the occupied West Bank, where violence has escalated since the war began, and among the Palestinian minority within Israel itself.

While Hamdan did not divulge details about the ceasefire discussions, he issued a stern message to Israel and the United States, stating that what could not be achieved on the battlefield would not be attained through political maneuvers.

The conflict was triggered by a large-scale assault by Hamas militants on October 7, resulting in the deaths of approximately 1,200 individuals and the abduction of around 250 hostages. During a ceasefire in November, Hamas released over 100 hostages in exchange for 240 Palestinian prisoners.

The war has resulted in over 30,000 Palestinian fatalities, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry, with around 80% of Gaza’s 2.3 million residents displaced from their homes.