A top Hamas official has called for violence against the allies of Israel, specifically advocating attacks on American and British "interests," as a response to the deaths of Gaza citizens.

According to media reports, the head of the political department of Hamas abroad, Sami Abu Zuhri, warned that "When (Secretary of State Antony) Blinken is justifying the killing of women and children, the sons of our nation should say to him: You are the enemy, just like (Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin) Netanyahu, and you must pay the price, just like Netanyahu." These comments were reported to have been made on Al-Aqsa TV, translated by the Middle East Media Research Institute (MEMRI), a few days after the end of a temporary pause in hostilities between Hamas and Israel. The pause, which lasted from Nov. 24 until Dec. 1, concluded with Israel resuming its ground campaign against Hamas, claiming the group failed to uphold its side of the agreement.

During the broadcast, Zuhri asserted that the Al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas, were fulfilling their duties, and he called on the nation to pressure the U.S. to stop the conflict. He advocated for violent acts against American and British interests and those of countries supporting the occupation, emphasizing that they should pay a price for the deaths of women and children in Gaza.

The FBI and the Department of Homeland Security warned of heightened threats to public safety during the holiday season associated with the Israel-Hamas conflict. The ongoing conflict has prompted a push for a permanent cease-fire at the United Nations, with Secretary-General António Guterres urging the Security Council to seek a cease-fire. However, the U.S. vetoed the measure, and the U.K. abstained from voting. The General Assembly adopted a resolution demanding an immediate cease-fire in Gaza, with the U.S. among the countries voting against it, while nearly two dozen countries abstained.