BICOM

The violence which has hit Israel and the West Bank during the last week threatened to engulf the Gaza Strip over the weekend as rockets were fired at southern Israel and Gazans attempted to breach the border.

On Friday, a group of Hamas and Islamic Jihad activists marched on the Gaza-Israel border and began rioting, prompting Israeli troops to open fire. Several deaths were reported. The IDF said that “They [the rioters] began throwing stones and rolling burning tires at Israeli forces.” During a further violent demonstration at the border on Saturday night, dozens of Gazans cut through the wire border fence, breaching the barrier. They were seized by Israeli forces and turned back, with five arrested. Later in the day, two Palestinians were shot and killed after entering a no entry border zone.

Meanwhile, a rocket from the Gaza Strip was fired at southern Israel on Saturday night and was intercepted by the Iron Dome anti-missile system near Ashkelon. Although rockets have been fired intermittently from Gaza at southern Israel during the past several months, this was the first rocket attack since the current wave of violence in Israel and the West Bank began. Israel Air Force planes responded hours later by striking two Hamas weapons manufacturing facilities. However, the strikes also impacted a nearby home, killing a pregnant 30-year-old woman and her young daughter. At least two more rockets were fired at Israel yesterday, both landing in open areas without causing injury or damage.

In light of the violence, Hamas called for an intifada and made clear it is ready for violence. Hamas’ leader in the Gaza Strip, Ismael Haniyeh told worshipers on Friday at a Gaza mosque, “We are calling for the strengthening and increasing of the intifada… It is the only path that will lead to liberation.” He added, “Gaza will fulfil its role in the Jerusalem intifada and it is more than ready for confrontation.”