IDF general warns Gazans not to riot on border: ‘Our patience has run out'
Published Saturday, November 17, 2018 | 20:45 CET
Published Saturday, November 17, 2018 | 20:45 CET
Israel’s military liaison to Palestinians releases Arabic-language video warning of ‘zero restraint’ and says rioters would ‘put themselves at risk’ in clashes expected for Friday
Israel’s military liaison to the Palestinians on Thursday threatened Gazans that Israel’s “patience has run out and we will respond severely” to those who take part in clashes along the border the next day.
In an Arabic-language video, posted to his Facebook page, Maj. Gen. Kamil Abu Rukun — known formally as the Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories — told Palestinians that Israel was adopting a zero-tolerance policy toward border violence.
This week saw a massive, two-day battle between Israel and the Gaza-ruling Hamas, apparently prompting Abu Rukun’s video warning.
A ceasefire, which was announced by Hamas on Tuesday evening but not officially confirmed by Israel, appeared to largely be holding as of Thursday night. Nevertheless, the Israeli military kept reinforcements in place and ordered troops to remain on high alert.
In the video, the general warns Palestinians, “Our patience has run out, and we will respond severely. We will show no restraint and will not go lightly against anyone who violates the following rules:”
“Anyone who approaches within 100 meters of the fence, will put himself at risk.
Anyone who destroys the fence or tries to damage it, will put himself at risk.
Anyone who tries to cross the security fence into Israel, will put himself at risk.
Anyone who throws improvised explosive devices, grenades and Molotov cocktails, will put himself at risk. Anyone who launches explosive balloons, will put himself at risk.”
A Palestinian protester uses a slingshot as others stand by a burning tire and wave a national flag during a demonstration along the border fence east of Gaza City on September 14, 2018. (AFP/Said Khatib)
Since March 30, Friday afternoons have seen large-scale demonstrations, riots and clashes along the Gaza border as part of what’s known as the “Great March of Return,” which Israel maintains are being orchestrated by Hamas and are not, as many Palestinians claim, a grassroots protest movement.
The general said that Israel is “well aware that these actions are not spontaneous, and that the Hamas terror group is the mastermind, managing and leading these activities.”
Abu Rukun told residents of the Strip to “wake up” and see that the Gaza-ruling Hamas terror group is “leading you into the abyss.”
Palestinian protesters watch as tear gas canisters fired by Israeli forces comes through black smoke of burning tires during a demonstration along the border fence east of Gaza City on September 14, 2018. (AFP/Said Khatib)
“Understand this before it is too late. See that you have been warned,” he said.
These demonstrations have regularly included the activities mentioned by Abu Rukun in the video. In response, Israeli soldiers have used tear gas and live fire.
More than 160 Palestinians have been killed in border clashes since March. Terror groups have acknowledged that dozens of the dead were their members. A Palestinian sniper killed an Israeli soldier in July.
Abu Rukun’s warning came two days after some of the most ferocious fighting between Israel and terror groups in the Strip since the 2014 Gaza war.
According to the military, over 460 rockets and mortar shells were fired at southern Israel over on Monday and Tuesday — more than twice the rate at which they were launched during the 2014 war.
Israelis inspect the damage in an apartment that was hit by a rocket fired from the Gaza Strip, in the southern Israeli town of Ashkelon on November 12, 2018. (Gil Cohen-Magen/AFP)
The Iron Dome missile defense system intercepted over 100 of them. Most of the rest landed in open fields, but dozens landed inside Israeli cities and towns, killing one person, injuring dozens and causing significant property damage.
In response to the rocket and mortar attacks, the Israeli military said it targeted approximately 160 sites in the Gaza Strip connected to the Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad terror groups, including four facilities that the army designated as “key strategic assets.”
The government’s response during the flareup drew significant opprobrium from both the opposition and from within it, with critics calling it weak.
On Wednesday, Defense Minsiter Avigdor Liberman announced he was resigning from his position in large part over the government’s policies toward Gaza.
Post A Comment:
0 comments:
Note: only a member of this blog may post a comment.