Hamas threatens violence if Chanukah march not stopped

Some 200 Jewish activists are expected to join a contentious Chanukah march in Jerusalemrsquos Old City the first night of the festival of lights to protest against Jordanrsquos control over Judaismrsquos holiest site according to organisers and the Israel Police In an invite shared on social media BeyadenuReturning to the Temple Mount one of the nine organisations behind the event said ldquoThis is not just another march not just another protest Kick out the Jordanian Islamic Waqf and restore full Jewish control over the Temple MountrdquoldquoWe wonrsquot win this war only in Gazardquo Beyadenu wrote in the invite calling on the Israeli government to expel ldquothe Nazis and their friends in the Waqfrdquo from the Mount Dubbed the ldquoMaccabee Marchrdquo after the Jewish heroes who led the revolt against the Hellenistic Seleucid Empire that culminated in a military victory and the rededication of the Temple almost 2200 years ago Thursdayrsquos procession is scheduled to depart at 730 pm from Tzahal Square in downtown JerusalemA police spokesperson told the Tazpit Press Service that participants will pass through the Damascus Gate into the Muslim Quarter of the Old City The official route ends at the Western Wall Plaza Marchers will not be allowed to ascend to the flashpoint Temple Mount the police emphasised Muslim prayers will continue to be held as usual during all eight days of Chanukah and ldquoany attempt to violate public order will be dealt with decisivelyrdquo the spokesperson addedMatter of time before Hamas chief found IsraelIsraeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu released a statement clarifying two points One dealt with Yahya Sinwar the leader of Hamas now that the IDF Israel Defense Forces has surrounded the area in southern Gaza where he was believed to be located ldquoLast night I said that our forces could go anywhere in the Gaza Striprdquo said NetanyahuSmoke billows out of a bombarded area in Gaza PicAFPldquoThey are currently surrounding Sinwarrsquos house His home is not his castle and he can flee but it is only a matter of time until we find himrdquo His second statement concerned getting the Red Cross to visit the Israeli hostages held in Gaza ldquoI spoke with the President of the Red Cross again and told her to turn to Qatar as it has been proven that they have leverage over Hamas and demand Red Cross visits with our hostagesrdquo9037 drop in visitor arrivals to Israel in NovIsraelrsquos Central Bureau of Statistics released the data on the total number of people who arrived in Israel from abroad in November Due to the war in Gaza there was more than a 90 per cent drop in the number of tourists who entered Israel from November 2022 Thirtynine thousand visitor arrivals to Israel were recorded compared to 369800 in November 2022 42137 of these visitors came from the United States Of these 38300 were tourist arrivals compared to 330700 in November 2022200No of Jewish activists joining marchThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever