(VitalNews.org) – On Friday the 13, US law enforcement across the country prepared for a global “Day of Jihad” as protests erupted around the world following the Israeli response to the surprise attack by Hamas, raising questions about the return of a post-9/11 atmosphere.
Last week, Khaled Mashaal, a former Hamas leader now leading diaspora forces in Qatar, praised the recent coordinated attack on Israel by the radical Islamic group earlier this month. He then called for “the Arab and “Islamic world” to “head to the squares and streets” in protest on Friday, October 13. In the video, which has since been removed from YouTube, Khaled called on the neighboring countries near Gaza, such as Syria, Jordan, Egypt, and Lebanon, to join Hamas and fight Israel.
Mashaal appealed to Jordan in particular, telling the country that this “is a moment of truth” and reminding them that the borders of Israel are nearby and telling Jordanians that it’s their “responsibility” to enter the conflict.
Because Mashaal mentioned “jihad,” the concept of a holy war in Islam, some outlets reported his call to the Arab world was also a call for a “global jihad.” In response to Mashaal’s message and call for “jihad,” authorities across the US increased their preparedness for possible unrest, violence, or terrorist threats.
Aside from thousands who protested across the Middle East on that Friday the 13th, demonstrations also broke out in New York City, Miami, and other US cities. Some of these events resulted in clashes with law enforcement, and France even decided to ban pro-Palestinian protests in the country in a controversial decision.
So far, thousands have died in the conflict between Israel and Hamas, which is pushing international relations to the brink and emphasizing political divisions in the US. Following the attack by Hamas, Israel launched a “complete siege” on the Gaza Strip.
Copyright 2023, VitalNews.org
