Shortly before Easter

Hamas calls on Muslims to march on Jerusalem

Just before the traditional Easter celebrations, the military arm of the Islamist terrorist organization Hamas released an audio recording on Wednesday calling on Muslims around the world to "liberate" the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem. The leader Mohammed Deif can be heard on the recording, but only a shadow can be seen.

Neither the authenticity nor the exact date of the recording, which was published on the Telegram channel of the Al-Qassam Brigades, could be clarified at first.

"Participate in the liberation of Al-Aqsa"
Muslims in various Arab countries were called upon to "march towards Palestine, now, not tomorrow". They should not let borders, state formations and restrictions prevent them from "participating in the liberation of Al-Aqsa", the 35-second recording said.

The video was published on the Telegram channel of the Al-Aqsa Brigades, the military arm of Hamas.(Bild: Telegram)

Deif, together with the Hamas leader in the Gaza Strip, Jihia al-Sinwar, is considered the planner of the unprecedented massacre in Israel on October 7. In a rare message on that day, Deif announced a "military operation" against Israel.

Third holiest site in Islam
The Al-Aqsa Mosque is located on the Temple Mount (Al-Haram al-Sharif) in Jerusalem, the third holiest site in Islam. However, the site is also sacred to Jews because two Jewish temples used to stand there. Tens of thousands of Muslims pray there during the fasting month of Ramadan. There had been fears that the Gaza war could lead to renewed violence. Hamas had called for protests. So far, however, the prayers have been largely peaceful.

Church leaders in favor of ceasefire
In their Easter message, the church leaders in Jerusalem are calling for an "immediate and lasting ceasefire" in the Gaza war. The message published on Wednesday speaks of the "intense suffering that surrounds us here in the Holy Land". It condemns "all violent acts in the current devastating war, especially those directed against innocent civilians".

On Good Friday, Christians in Jerusalem traditionally carry wooden crosses in a procession along the Via Dolorosa (Way of Sorrows) as they walk to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, where many Christians believe Jesus was crucified and buried and rose from the dead. Easter Sunday is celebrated with a mass. This year, Easter coincides with the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan.