Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh delivered a sermon in Gaza on March 9, calling on residents to march toward the border fence with Israel and protest the Israeli siege. “We will not be able to control tens of thousands of civilians who join marches in the north, east and south of the Strip,” Haniyeh warned.

Haniyeh's message was directed at Israel and perhaps Egypt as well. It implied that although Hamas has so far controlled the number of protesters who gather every Friday at the fence, it is now giving the nod to mass demonstrations and clashes with the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), deployed on the other side.

Since US President Donald Trump announced the move of the US Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem after recognizing it as the capital of Israel on Dec. 6, Hamas has been encouraging demonstrators to clash with Israeli troops along Gaza’s northern border fence. Nonetheless, the IDF surmised that Hamas was limiting the numbers to prevent the protests from spiraling out of control, but at the same time keeping them in the public eye until the leadership deems the time right for larger demonstrations. It seems the time has now arrived.

Hamas is apparently scheduling mass marches, dubbed the Journey of Great Return, for two emotionally charged dates. The first is March 30, when Palestinians mark Land Day, commemorating Israel’s expropriation of lands from its Arab citizens. Hamas views the Land Day march as a rehearsal for the second event, which is planned for Nakba Day, May 15, also marking Israel’s declaration of independence in 1948. According to reports, the United States is planning to relocate its embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem the day before, on May 14.