As Friday approaches, Gazans have amassed some 10,000 tires intended for burning during a second mass protest along the Gaza security fence. Women and children were instructed to carry mirrors and lasers to distract IDF snipers at the fence.
The burnt tires are expected to create a “wall of smoke” along the border. According to Ynet News, several Palestinian groups in Gaza have expressed their objection to the move, claiming that the ecological repercussions would be negative for all sides.
Meanwhile, Israel’s Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories Major-General Yoav Mordechai has sent a letter to the World Health Organization (WHO) warning of the environmental impact Friday’s protests will likely bring. In his letter, Mordechai urged WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom to do everything in his power to stop an imminent ecological “catastrophe.”
Hamas will try this Friday to torch the border fence w/ Israel w/ thousands of tires.— Ofir Gendelman (@ofirgendelman) April 4, 2018
This will burn down Palestinian fields near the border & the heavy smoke, toxins & pollution will cause a huge environmental disaster for Palestinians.
But Hamas doesn't care. Remember that. pic.twitter.com/ZoeKRmmbTL
Violent clashes along the Israel-Gaza border began last week as the Palestinians launched a “Great March of Return” near the security fence. At least 18 Palestinians have been killed in the clashes, most of them were members of the Hamas and PIJ terrorist organizations, the IDF said.
On both sides of the Gaza security fence, preparations were underway Thursday for mass protests planned for a day later, with Israelis and Palestinians getting ready for clashes — and working quietly to prevent a repeat of the deadly chaos from a week earlier that seems an all-but foregone conclusion.
Palestinians have called for a fresh round of demonstrations for Friday, following a massive protest a week ago in which more than 30,000 people took part. Since then the border has mostly calmed, although there have been small daily demonstrations and border clashes, including what the Israel Defense Forces said was an attempt by the Hamas terror group’s military wing to send an armed fighter into Israeli territory early Thursday morning, which was prevented with an Israeli airstrike.
Despite calls for calm, storm clouds are looming, and threatening to turn into deadly toxic plumes.
Israel says it will respond with the same force it did last week, despite criticism over the use of live fire, and has warned it may expand its response beyond the border if need be. On the other side of the fence, Gazans have geared up for more demonstrations and massive tire fires, and Hamas leaders have threatened more severe riots that may not stop at the border.
According to the Hamas-run Gaza health ministry, in total, at least 20 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli troops during clashes starting last Friday. The majority of them were identified as members of terrorist groups, either by the organizations themselves or by the Israeli military. Nearly 1,500 people were also reportedly injured.
On Monday, IDF Spokesperson Brig. Gen. Ronen Manelis said the army used “precision fire” and only shot live rounds at those who threatened soldiers or the security fence. He also accused the Hamas-run health ministry of dramatically inflating the number of people it said were hit by live rounds.
Israel maintains that these protests are not spontaneous and civilian-led, as Palestinians say, but are orchestrated entirely by the Hamas terrorist organization, which rules Gaza.
Manelis said the army was prepared to target terrorist positions deep inside the Gaza Strip if Hamas continues its violent activities on the border.
The spokesperson said in another briefing Thursday that the terrorist group has called on all its members and their families to participate and that Israel has evidence of Hamas forcing bus companies to transport people to the protest. He also noted that Hamas has begun offering payments of $200 to $500 to anyone who is wounded, and $3,000 to the families of those who are killed during the demonstrations.
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