Hamas’ political chief Ismail Haniyeh said in an April 15 press statement that the resistance group would retaliate should Israeli settlers’ attacks continue in Al-Aqsa Mosque, saying it would “defend Al-Aqsa at all costs” and outlined four demands for Israel:

• allow worshipers to access Al-Aqsa Mosque freely and not attack them inside the holy site
• release the detainees arrested at April 15 as well as those arrested earlier
• prevent any animal sacrifices inside the mosque, in reference to threats by extremist Jewish groups to carry out sacrifices at the mosque compound
• end the assassinations in Jenin, the nearby camp and throughout the West Bank

Egyptian intelligence officials and UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process Tor Wennesland have intensified contacts with both sides in a bid to prevent escalation in Gaza over the Al-Aqsa events. Hamas also stated in a press release that Haniyeh had received a call from Wennesland, “who called on all concerned parties to work to contain the situation.”

But despite the Egyptian and UN-led mediation efforts to avoid an escalation from the Gaza Strip, a rocket was fired from the enclave toward Israel on April 19. No faction claimed responsibility. In response, the Israeli military launched airstrikes inside Gaza for the first time since last year’s conflict and Al-Qassam Brigades, Hamas’ military wing, reacted by firing surface-to-air rockets at the Israeli jets.

On April 21, a series of rockets were launched from Gaza toward southern Israel, with no claim of responsibility from any faction. Subsequently, Israel hit resistance positions inside the enclave, with Hamas responding by firing a surface-to-air rocket.