Gaza City, December 4 (RHC)-- The Palestinian Islamic resistance movement, Hamas, has warned the United States against plans to relocate its embassy from Tel Aviv to occupied Jerusalem and to recognize the city as the capital of the Israeli regime.  “This would represent a U.S. assault and give legitimacy to [Israel] over the city,” Hamas said in a statement released over the weekend. 

The statement added that such a decision constituted a flagrant violation of international law concerning Jerusalem al-Quds as an occupied territory, and provided a cover for Israel to advance its Judaization plans and expel the Palestinian population.  The resistance movement also called upon the Palestinian nation to stand up to any such “brutal decision.” 

“Any decision whatsoever would not change the fact that Jerusalem al-Quds is of Arab and Islamic identity, and is part of the Palestinian land,” Hamas pointed out.  The Palestinian movement urged all Arab and Muslim countries as well as freedom-loving nations to work to halt the expected U.S. decision. 

Earlier, Jordanian Information Minister Mohammad Momani said that moving the U.S. Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem al-Quds would be a “red line” for Jordan and would “inflame the Islamic and Arab streets.”  Jordan administers the holy al-Aqsa Mosque compound in East Jerusalem. 

Momani noted that transfer of the U.S. diplomatic mission could disrupt relations between Washington and regional allies, including Jordan, stressing that Amman would make use of all available political and diplomatic avenues to prevent the relocation. 

The Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) has also warned the U.S. against the relocation of its diplomatic mission in Israel, saying all American embassies in the Arab world would be forced to close in the face of popular Arab outrage that would follow such an action.