Ayman al-Zawahiri, al-Qaeda's second-in-command, has called on Palestinians to step up attacks on Israel, according to a new audio clip.
Increased suicide and rocket attacks were the only way to end Israel's blockade of the Gaza Strip, a voice attributed to the Egyptian-born al-Qaeda deputy said in the message posted online on Wednesday.
The message marked the 41st anniversary of the 1967 Middle East war, which Arabs refer to as the "naksa" or "setback", a banner accompanying the 11-minute audio file read.
Israel occupied the West Bank, including Arab East Jerusalem, Gaza, the Sinai and the Golan Heights during the war.
In the audio clip, the speaker told Palestinians: "Step up your martyrdom-seeking operations, and increase your missiles and ambushes, as there is no solution but this.
"Salvation of the Muslim nation is through the march of its sons on the path of jihad."
The speaker also branded Hosni Mubarak, Egypt's president, a traitor for not opening his borders to Palestinians.
"The brother from Gaza is refused entry [by Egypt], while an Israeli tourist is allowed to enter without a visa," he said.
Al-Qaeda has vowed attacks on Jews both from within, and outside, Israel.
The audio clip follows recent statements attributed to Osama bin Laden, al-Qaeda's leader, placing more emphasis on the Palestinian issue.
Last week, a tape reported to be from bin Laden tape urged Muslims to break the blockade of the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip and fight Arab governments that deal with Israel.
Al-Zawahiri urged Muslims to support fighters from the Islamic State in Iraq group, which he said posed the biggest threat to US-led forces in the country, in the last message attributed to him on April 22.