The Jerusalem District Police raised its alert level to the maximum on Sunday morning ahead of Nakba Day after the Hamas terrorist group on Saturday called for a mass Palestinian turnout at Al-Aqsa Mosque, in the Temple Mount compound.
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Nakba Day, during which the Palestinians mark the "catastrophe" of Israel's inception in 1948, is inherently volatile and often sees riots in the West Bank and Gaza. Given the recent tensions surrounding the Temple Mount, the situation this year is considered even more precarious.
Hamas also warned against Jews visiting the Temple Mount on Sunday, when Nakba Day and the Jewish festival of "Pesach Sheni," or Second Passover, coincide.
Of the possibility of Jews visiting the Temple Mount, the Hamas statement said that "breaking into the Al-Aqsa Mosque on Nakba Day and Israel's approval of such is a dangerous escalation that plays with the emotions of the Palestinian nation and the Arab people."
Allowing Jews to visit the Temple Mount would be tantamount to "encouraging clashes for which Israel would be held responsible," the terrorist group warned.
In light of the threats, the police were preparing to provide additional protection to Jews who do visit the holy site, as well as enhance security around the area in several rings, both overtly and covertly.
Terror alerts have risen significantly in recent weeks, and police departments in mixed Jewish and Arab cities in Israel were also ordered to be on increased alert for eruptions of violence.
"The situation on the ground is volatile," a senior police official said. "Any match can ignite a blaze in several arenas. We are ready for any scenario."
To prepare for Nakba Day, the Israel Police canceled virtually all training activities and courses on Sunday and has also deployed staff officers in recent weeks to bolster the ranks of the field officers.
On Friday afternoon, hundreds of Palestinians chanted anti-Israel slogans and clashed with security forces during the funeral of Al-Jazeera journalist Shireen Abu Akleh, who was killed Monday during a gunfight between IDF soldiers and terrorists in the West Bank city of Jenin.
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