‘We want security now’
Gaza border residents take their protest to Tel Aviv
Hundreds of people from Gaza border communities demonstrated in front of the Azrieli Center and Defense Ministry in Tel Aviv on Thursday evening, shouting “The residents of the South are saying: ‘enough!’”
This marks the third consecutive day that residents of the South have been protesting against the ceasefire with Hamas, which they see as being as fragile and temporary as all previous truces with the terrorist organization.
The protests on Tuesday and Wednesday in communities in the South included burning tires, obstructing roads and blocking supply trucks seeking to enter the Gaza Strip via the Kerem Shalom border crossing. Many high school students in the South declared a school strike to join the demonstrations.
On Thursday, the protesters took their demonstration to Tel Aviv, where they blocked several major roads in a bid to garner media coverage.
The event organizers are calling for a longterm solution to the rain of rockets and mortars from Gaza “because our children deserve to grow up in peace.”
Their protest came after a fierce barrage
to the weekly confrontations, as well as the frequent launches of incendiary balloons into Israeli territory. Hamas, on the other hand, has repeatedly stated that the protests would continue until Israel lifts the blockade on the Gaza Strip.
While there have been no indications on social media about planned protests, it is likely that thousands of Palestinians will gather at the Gaza security fence.
“If the protests are too small, then Israel might think they won by canceling the demonstrations,” Kedar said. “They [Hamas] don’t want to give Israel that achievement.”
According to Kedar, an invitation by Hamas to come to the area of the Ismail Abu Shanab mosque – where the botched IDF commando raid took place to commemorate the terrorists killed by Israel – might see a large protest by Gazans near the fence afterwards.
“This event in Khan Yunis might become a demonstration against Israel,” he said, adding that the mosque “is not so far from the Israeli border, a 15 minute walk-after the event they can all walk to the fence.”
Hamas “might be willing to cause a clash between Israel and demonstrators in order to say that ‘we keep the peace while Israel keeps shooting at us.’” Kedar said, warning that Hamas wants to “check Israeli patience” and “drag Israel into a trap.”
The violent riots along the Gaza security fence, which began in March, have led to some 221 Palestinians being killed, according to Palestinian Health Ministry figures. It has also led to fears of another military operation against Hamas to restore the quiet seen in the four years since the end of Operation Protective Edge.
Before the latest outbreak of violence, Israel and Hamas were reportedly close to signing a long-term ceasefire agreement – and Israel allowed the transfer of $15 million in cash to Hamas to pay the salaries of civil servants. The money, which was paid for by Qatar and the first installment out of $90 million, was transferred in three suitcases in a heavily guarded vehicle in the blockaded coastal enclave.
According to Arabic media reports, the ceasefire would have also included a partial lifting of restrictions on the movement of goods and people into and out of Gaza, as well as a sea passage between Cyprus and the Gaza Strip, which would be monitored by international forces under Israeli security supervision.
But over the course of 25 hours beginning on Monday, close to 500 mortars and rockets were launched into southern Israel from the Hamas-run enclave. The violence ended after a ceasefire was signed that had been mediated by Egypt, the United Nations, Norway and Switzerland.
Meeting with Pope Francis at the Vatican on Thursday, President Reuven Rivlin said that the “unending” rocket fire against Israeli civilians is unacceptable and that Israel would not “stand by” in the face of Hamas attacks.
“Hamas again and again escalates the situation by cynically exploiting the people of Gaza,” he said, adding that “Israel does not want escalation or to hurt innocent civilians, but will not stand by while Hamas undermines stability and our civilians are harmed.” •