Hamas to Gazans: Bring Sunglasses for Friday’s Mass Riots

YERUSHALAYIM
Palestinian protesters carry tires to burn them during clashes with Israeli troops at the Israel-Gaza border, in the southern Gaza Strip, Thursday. (Reuters/Ibraheem Abu Mustafa)

Israeli planes overnight Wednesday targeted an Arab terrorist who was operating along the Gaza border fence. The terrorist was armed and apparently on his way to attempt to cross the fence. In a statement, the IDF said that it “will not allow the security of Israelis to be harmed and will use all means at its disposal against terrorists.”

Rioting took place yet again on Thursday morning as Hamas continued to gear up for major rioting it hopes to instigate on Friday. Several hundred rioters attempted to push their way to the Gaza border, burning tires and throwing stones and firebombs at soldiers. Soldiers used anti-riot measures against the mobs.

In new leaflets distributed by Hamas to residents of Gaza, the terror group listed instructions for those participating in the riots – which, it said, would feature the burning of thousands of tires, in an attempt to create enough smoke to blind Israeli soldiers and divert their attention in order to break through the border fence. Participants were told to bring gas masks or medical masks if they had them, sunglasses or other eye protection, and if they had them, laser sticks – also to be used to blind Israeli soldiers.

Riots last Friday saw some 20,000 Gaza Arabs attempted to mass on the Gaza border fence, on orders of Hamas, throwing stones and firebombs at Israeli forces, and Hamas plans an even bigger riot this week, a spokesperson for the terror group told the Gaza Ma’an news agency, saying that at least 10,000 tires had been collected and would be burned during rioting in order to create acrid smoke that would keep Israeli soldiers away – and enable terrorists to breach the Gaza border fence. The IDF reiterated in a statement that the IDF said that the border was sacrosanct, and that it “separates a sovereign state and a terrorist organization. It separates a state that protects its citizens from murderers who send their countrymen into danger. The fence separates an army that uses force in self-defense and in a focused and proportionate manner, and Hamas, an organization that sanctifies murder and death, that for years – Friday included – has been intent on harming millions of Israelis.”

Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman toured Gaza border communities and praised soldiers stationed in the area, saying that “they worked in a professional and determined manner and enabled them to celebrate Pesach – at least so far – in happiness and security.”

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