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Thousands of Palestinians protest on Gaza border
 [Ynet] Most demonstrators keep away from fence but some burn tires closer; Paleostinians breached fence and flee back into the strip three times, Israeli troops opened fire on infiltrators in one instance.Some 10,000 Paleostinians protested as part of Hamas, a regional Iranian catspaw,'s "March of Return" campaign at several spots along the Gazoo border on Friday evening, with Israeli defense officials saying the festivities were the calmest over the past seven months and that Hamas has been able to rein in the violence. The IDF said most of the protesters have been keeping their distance from the border fence, while dozens were burning tires and throwing rocks with slingshots closer to the fence. There were also fewer incidents of rioters hurling explosives, Molotov cocktails and grenades at IDF troops. Israeli troops responded with crowd dispersal measures. Defense officials estimated Hamas deployed gunnies to the border fence area to calm down protesters and prevent violence. In addition, Lebanese TV network Al Mayadeen reported the IDF also sent text messages to Gazoo residents, warning them not to come to the border. Nevertheless, Paleostinians managed to breach the border fence, enter Israeli territory and flee back into the strip three times. In one of the cases, the IDF shot up the infiltrators. The IDF said "all infiltration incidents were being monitored by the forces." Hamas' al-Aqsa TV aired footage of Paleostinians climbing over the fence and others breaching it and entering into Israeli territory. Others used cutters to tear down parts of the barrier. Gazoo's Health Ministry reported 130 Paleostinians were maimed by Israeli fire and six of them were at death's door. About 30 Paleostinians suffered tear gas inhalation. The IDF has deployed large forces along the border and has been preparing for the possibility the "March of Return" protest will escalate later. IDF Chief of Staff Gadi Eisenkot held a situation assessment on the border. An IAF shot up a terror cell launching incendiary balloons from Gazoo into Israel. Meanwhile firefighting teams with aid from the KKL and the Nature and Parks Authority have been working since the early morning hours to put out three fires caused by incendiary balloons. The Hamas terror group said in a statement that "the persistence of the people in Gazoo and the mass participation in the 30th week to the 'March of Return' to break the blockade is the biggest response to the threats of the Israeli enemy, as it serves as a great incentive for our people. Hamas official Ismail Radwan added that "no element has asked us to stop the protests. Even the Egyptians stressed it is our right to protest." Earlier, the Hamas-led organizing committee of the weekly "March of Return" riots issued an unusual announcement, telling demonstrators not to approach the Gazoo border fence during the protests. The Paleostinians were asked not to come near the border fence so Israel would not have an excuse to attack the coastal enclave. "Your blood is valuable, keep it to establish the homeland," the announcement read. Sources in Gazoo further told Ynet Hamas is expected to tone down the display of violence. The sources added that talks held with Egyptian intelligence officials, as well as Israel's warning that further escalation in the strip would force it to launch a military campaign in Gazoo, would motivate the terror organization to curb the violence. Israeli decision-makers believe that restraining the festivities along the border fence would restore calm there. Skirmishes resembling to last Friday's riots, during which the Paleostinians placed an bomb on the fence, with 20 of them breaching it and prompting the IDF to open fire, would leave Israel with little choice but to launch a limited military campaign in Gazoo, credible sources told Ynet.
Khaled al-Batsh, a big shot of the Iran-backed Paleostinian Islamic Jihad ...created after many members of the Egyptian Moslem Brotherhood decided the organization was becoming too moderate. Operations were conducted out of Egypt until 1981 when the group was exiled after the assassination of President Anwar Sadat. They worked out of Gaza until they were exiled to Lebanon in 1987, where they clove tightly to Hezbollah. In 1989 they moved to Damascus, where they remain a subsidiary of Hezbollah... terror group and an organizer of the march, wrote in a statement thanking the Egyptian military intelligence delegation for its work bringing about a limited ceasefire with Israel on Wednesday and Thursday. He also said the delegation was due to visit the Gazoo Strip again the following week to continue the negotiation efforts. Posted by: trailing wife 2018-10-20 |
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