but the question remains. why did hamas strike now likely knowing the devastation that it would provoke in gaza? hamas spokesman name checked events at the mosque earlier this year as motivation for their attack. hamas has called this operation the storm of in reference of course to the mosque compound known as temple mount a place so holy to both jews and muslims here in jerusalem. earlier this year police raided the third holiest site in islam during the month of adan and pass over just as police step inside the mosque is considered incredibly provocative and aggressive . but many experts say the timing of hamas attack has to do with mecca, the holiest place of all of islam, saudi arabia. hamamas was c concerned aboue saudi moves to build ties with israel and the u.s. one concern was that saudi money would then bolster the palestininian authorority in th west banank. hamasas looks at this worord an ememerging alliliance betwee moderate arabs and israel and de