US Police Respond to 'Global Day of Jihad' Call

Police across the U.S. are preparing to respond to possible threats during the so-called "Day of Jihad" on Friday, October 13, when a former Hamas leader has called on Muslims across the world to take to the streets in support of Palestinians in Gaza.

"[We must] head to the squares and streets of the Arab and Islamic world on Friday," said Khaled Mashaal, a former leader of Hamas now heading its diaspora in Qatar, on Thursday.

In a video shared on YouTube which has since been removed, he called on the people of Gaza's neighboring countries like Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, and Egypt to join the fight against Israel.

"Tribes of Jordan, sons of Jordan, brothers and sisters of Jordan... This is a moment of truth and the borders are close to you, you all know your responsibility," he said, per a Reuters translation of the video. Mashaal mentioned the concept of "jihad," and some outlets reported that he had urged a "global jihad."

The call has led U.S authorities to increase their vigilance over possible threats to the country and its citizens, with White House Coordinator for Strategic Communications John Kirby saying on Thursday during a press conference that the government was "absolutely" focused on "any threats to the American people."

Police in some of the biggest cities in the country are also staying vigilant ahead of Friday.

Rebecca Weiner, deputy commissioner of intelligence and counterterrorism for the New York City Police, told Fox 5 NY on Thursday that residents of the Big Apple will see an "enhanced security posture"—which has been put in place since Hamas's attack on Israel last Saturday—and "officers from our critical response command, our counterterrorism officers, officers on patrol."

She said: "These deployments are about two things: they're about deterrence and reassurance. We want New Yorkers to feel safe and we want people to stay calm." She said that New York police don't "anticipate violence" or an "imminent threat" but they want New Yorkers to feel safe and not "get sucked in" fears shared on social media.

The NYPD wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter, that "there are no specific, credible threats to New York City."

"We are aware of the concern that postings circulating online have caused, and we have increased our uniform deployments at large gatherings and cultural sites to ensure public safety out of an abundance of caution," NYPD said.

Police in Washington, D.C., are enhancing their security ahead of expected protests on Friday. "We are enhancing security throughout the Capitol Complex," U.S. Capitol Police said in a statement reported by Fox 11. "Some of what we are doing will be visible, but for safety reasons, we cannot provide the public details about all of the resources that we are putting into protecting the Congress."

The Los Angeles Police Department is on high alert, having enhanced security around both Jewish and Muslim communities.

"The Los Angeles Police Department is aware of recent statements made calling for action as it relates to the conflict in the Middle East," the LAPD said in a statement reported by the Los Angeles magazine.

"We have no information of any specific or credible threats to the City of Los Angeles but we are continuing to assess the situation for any potential impact to our communities. We are closely monitoring these events and are coordinating with federal, state, and local partners on information sharing."

Portland police also reported "no immediate" threat to the city's residents but said they were monitoring the situation closely and were ready to "move resources as needed."

Mashaal's call for protests amid an anticipated ground offensive of the strip followed Israel's airstrikes on and total siege of Gaza after Hamas' attacks on Israeli settlements last Saturday. The Israeli military has informed the U.N. that the entire population of northern Gaza—over one million people—should move to the southern half of the territory within 24 hours as its troops prepare "for the next stage of the war."

According to the latest estimates from the Associated Press, the war between Israel and Hamas has claimed at least 2,800 lives on both sides since October 7, when Hamas launched a deadly surprise attack by air, sea, and land on Israel.