Since the May 2021 war with Israel, Hamas’s main goal has been to make sure that the flames do not spread to the Gaza Strip. That’s why it has been focusing its efforts on instigating and encouraging violence in Jerusalem, the West Bank and among the Israeli-Arabs, while maintaining calm with Israel on the Gaza Strip front.

Despite the belligerent statements and threats of Hamas leaders and spokesmen over the past few weeks, it’s obvious that the terrorist group is not interested in, or prepared for, another round of fighting with Israel.

The price Hamas and the Palestinians living under its control paid during the last war was so heavy that no one in the Gaza Strip wants to hear about another outbreak of hostilities, especially not when the Egyptians, the Qataris and some international agencies are making a big effort to help rebuild the damaged buildings and infrastructure in the coastal enclave.

This does not mean, of course, that Hamas is not preparing for the next war with Israel. Nor does it mean that Hamas and the other groups in the Gaza Strip, including Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ), have lost motivation to pursue the fight against Israel.

Instead, the Gaza-based groups are saying that, for now, they want to see the battle against Israel take place elsewhere.

Hamas believes that it has already succeeded in securing itself the title of the “Defender of Jerusalem” by initiating last year’s war over Israel’s practices in Jerusalem, particularly the threat to evict a number of Arab families from their homes in the east Jerusalem neighborhood of Sheikh Jarrah and security measures in the Old City, including the al-Aqsa Mosque compound (Temple Mount).

Hamas has even called the war “Sword of Jerusalem,” corresponding to the Israeli label “Guardian of the Walls.” This is Hamas’s way of telling the Palestinians that it was the only group that dared to stand up to Israel over the issue of Jerusalem. Now, Hamas is telling the Palestinians outside of the Gaza Strip and the Israeli-Arabs that it’s their turn to confront Israel.

Hamas has made no secret of its plan and desire to instigate violence on the streets of the West Bank, Jerusalem and other parts of Israel.

Source: https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-703565