Hamas leader Khaled Mashaal on Monday gave an interview to the France 24 network, in which he said that the organization is working to prevent an escalation but would continue to work towards the lifting of the “siege” of Gaza.
He added that the current wave of terrorism is a "popular uprising that broke out due to the Israeli government's attempt to divide the Al-Aqsa Mosque", and added, "Hamas does not support the killing of civilians, but will defend the Palestinians from the occupation and the extremist settlers".