As the city prepares for massive demonstrations in Times Square and elsewhere, don’t dismiss the barbarity of Hamas because the terror group is based halfway around the world.
Its members and allies can and will try to do harm on US soil, too.
Witness former chieftain Khaled Meshaal’s call for a global day of jihad Friday, a blatant attempt to incite violence.
“To all scholars who teach jihad,” said Meshaal from his deluxe Doha surroundings, “this is a moment for the application (of theories).”
That call was echoed by Hamas itself, per regional analysts.
Not that the terror group’s fans need much encouragement to become violent.
One seeming supporter was arrested Thursday for a vicious attack on an Israeli student at Columbia University (whose whole campus is now closed to outsiders in anticipation of wider violence).
The NYPD takes Meshaal at his word, as it should.
Brass ordered all uniformed units, of every rank, to show up in uniform Friday and be ready for deployment.
Even as they increase precinct-house security at all 77 precincts and make sure Jewish religious centers and schools are on the alert.
We pray the peace holds, despite the best efforts of Meshaal and his cadres.
And the national Dems and legacy media stooges who run interference for them.
But all this comes as the overstretched NYPD was moving to slash its counter-terror resources to cover other priorities — since the City Council is so hostile to letting its ranks grow.
Former Commissioner Bill Bratton is alarmed, warning: “This is coming at a time where potential threats around the world and the threat to the United States have increased exponentially.”
We hope police can manage Friday without serious incident, but the danger level will remain high for weeks if not months.
That New Yorkers stand within reach of Hamas’ murderous schemes should open our eyes — and steel the Big Apple’s resolve to fight Islamist savagery in every form.
This story originally appeared on NYPost
