Tens of thousands of Hamas supporters rallied in Al-Katiba Square in Southwestern Gaza on Monday to celebrate the 22nd anniversary of the Islamist group’s founding. The massive turnout, alongside technological advancements and telling statements from Hamas leaders, reflects the fact that Hamas is a growing threat to Israel.

In preparation for the celebration, supporters hung the green flag of Hamas on prominent lampposts throughout the coastal strip. They also posted portraits of Hamas leaders on walls, especially those depicting the group’s late founder and spiritual leader, Sheikh Ahmed Yassin.

At the event, Hamas’s Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh vowed that the group would never recognize Israel or lay down its arms.

“This movement, with the help of the armed factions, liberated the Gaza Strip, and we say, brothers and sisters, we will not be satisfied with Gaza,” he said. “Hamas looks toward the whole of Palestine, the liberation of the Strip is just a step to liberating all of Palestine.”

In an analysis of Haniyeh’s statement, Haaretz correspondent Ari Shavit wrote this:

In recent years, quite a number of experts have promised us that Hamas does not really mean it. Hamas is only playing tough, but its intentions are lofty: ceasefire, Green Line, coexistence. Live and let live. But no message conveyed by any senior Hamas member to any diplomat behind closed doors is equal in status to the message conveyed by Haniyeh to the masses. What counts is only the direct and open statement made by the Palestinian leader to his people. Palestine, all of Palestine. Every piece of Israeli land on which any Israeli citizen lives. His home, your home, our home. The land beneath our feet.

Abu Obeida, a spokesman for Hamas’s military wing, also spoke at the celebration. “We have been able to build an army for resistance and to haunt the Zionist enemy,” he said. “[The Qassam Brigades] has manufactured its weapons with its bare hands … including the Qassam rocket, which terrifies the Zionist enemy.”

On Tuesday, exiled Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal told a news conference that Hamas would fight alongside Iran, in the event of an Israeli strike on the Islamic Republic.

Israel says it would consider such a strike if diplomatic efforts fail to stop Iran’s nuclear program. Tehran’s claims that its nuclear ambitions are strictly for peaceful purposes were further undermined by a leaked document detailing Iran’s work on a trigger for a nuclear weapon that recently came to light.

According to Meshaal, Iran would not stand alone if attacked by Israel.

“All Islamist militant groups will form a united front with Iran against Israel if it attacks Iran,” he said. “We are all parts of the same body …. We all should fight against the mutual enemy.”

Iran has said that if attacked, it will retaliate. Analysts believe Tehran would not only mobilize Hamas in a military response, but also the Lebanese terrorist organization Hezbollah.

On Wednesday, Iran tested an improved version of its most advanced missile, capable of striking Israel and parts of Europe. History teaches that Tehran is quick to share such weaponry with its proxies.

With Iranian-supported Hamas and Hezbollah on its borders, Israel is in danger of Tehran’s wrath from several sides. Because Iran is increasing the rocket-reach of both Hamas and Hezbollah, this strategic positioning is more menacing to Israel than ever.

For more information on Hamas and Iran’s support of terrorist organizations, read “Iran Is King.”