Hamas calls for Palestinian citizens of Israel to 'rise up'

Abu Ubaida, the spokesperson of the Qassam Brigades, Hamas's military wing, called on Palestinian citizens of Israel to "rise up" and continue to protest to claim their rights from the Israeli government.

In a brief voice note released in the early hours of Wednesday morning as several Palestinian towns in Israel errupted in protest in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza and Jerusalem, Abu Ubaida urged the demonstrators to remain unwavering.

"Our people in occupied Palestine from 1948, our people in the blessed Jerusalem, in Jaffa and Akka (Acre) and Lod and Ramla and Umm al-Fahm and Negev and in every inch of Palestine - we are from you and you are from us," Abu Ubaida said.

"Stay put in your positions and confront the arrogance of the occupiers… Rise up, people of [this] sacred home and loyal guardians of Palestine."

Abu Ubaida emphasised removing the distinction between Palestinians inside Israel and Palestinians in the occupied territories. 

We send "a salute to your giving that is the fuel to the revolution of our people and the liberation of our land," he said.