One of the founding members of the Hamas Politburo, Khalid Mashal, is calling for a worldwide uprising of Muslims in support of Hamas. In this he echos and expands upon Hamas’ leadership in the Gaza Strip’s call for a local uprising called the “Friday of Al-Aqsa flood” which is to include a takeover of the Al-Aqsa Mosque and surroundings in Jerusalem.

Mashal was the official leader of Hamas’ Politburo until he resigned in 2017, transferring power from his perch in Qatar to local leaders in Gaza. He still represents the organization in Qatar.

My own analysis based on Mashal’s speech:

1. I predict possible terrorist attacks next Friday (or even before), in European countries and the U.S. against Jewish targets, and also American targets

2. I predict protests, in Muslim countries and in western countries, led by…

— Brother Rachid الأخ رشيد (@BrotherRasheed) October 11, 2023

Hamas’ statement called on Arabs to “defend” the Mosque and, apparently, to expel the Jews from Jerusalem. Via MEMRI:

On October 10, 2023, Hamas issued a statement[1] designating the upcoming Friday, October 13, 2023, as a day of general mobilization for the “Al-Aqsa Flood” operations. In the statement, it urged Palestinians in the West Bank and within Israel to participate in large-scale rallies and confront Israeli soldiers at every opportunity.

Extending its call to Palestinians, Arabs, Muslims, and advocates of freedom worldwide, Hamas exhorted them to dedicate this coming Friday as a day of unwavering support, to “expose the occupation and earn the honor of taking part in defending Al-Aqsa Mosque.”

Addressing Palestinians residing within Israel, it implored them to participate in guarding duties (Ribat) within Al-Aqsa Mosque “to safeguard it, its Islamic heritage, and its divine message, and to prevent the settler gangs from desecrating it, and to thwart the fascist occupation’s plans aimed at dividing and Judaizing it, and building its alleged temple… and to unite with the sons of your people in Gaza and the West Bank.”

Additionally, the statement called upon Arabs, Muslims, and Palestinians in refugee camps worldwide to converge in massive gatherings near the borders of Palestine, showcasing their unwavering solidarity with Palestine, Jerusalem, and Al-Aqsa. Those living farther away from Jerusalem were urged to assemble at the nearest point leading to the city.

Mashal, from Qatar, called for Palestinians and all Muslims around the world to shed blood and become martyrs for the cause. He doesn’t explicitly call for terrorist attacks but it is easy to read between the lines.

So far the Arab countries’ response to Israel’s strikes against Hamas have been relatively muted, but for decades the fear is that what is known as the “Arab street”–the more radical and less sophisticated masses–drive policy when their political leaders are up against the wall, so to speak. Everybody remembers the “Arab Spring” in 2011, so it is not implausible that the fragile peace in the region could be compromised.

Of more immediate concern, of course, is the prospect of Muslims in foreign countries taking up the challenge laid down and going beyond demonstrations of support for Hamas’ terrorism in Israel and committing acts of terror where they live. It wouldn’t take many extremists to wreak havoc in America and Europe.

How much time and energy has the FBI spent tracking Catholics, well-meaning parents, Trump supporters, etc. rather than tracking real threats to our security? A minute spent on unconstitutional, goose hunts could be the minute we miss a real killer who’s walked across the border. https://t.co/ORxlrIUMoF

— David Asman (@DavidAsmanfox) October 11, 2023

Terrorist rings have already been caught planning attacks, and there is worry about whether terrorists have crossed the southern border in the US and about the massive flood of Muslim refugees that has hit Europe.

Should terror attacks spread from Israel to the West it will further upend world politics in unpredictable ways, and it shouldn’t surprise anyone should these attacks happen.

We have to assume that security services are on the lookout for potential attacks, and might even shift resources away from spying on Catholics and parental rights advocates.

One would hope, at least.