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IDF doubles forces on Gaza border

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The IDF has doubled the number of personnel on the Gaza border today in anticipation of large-scale and violent demonstrations organised by Hamas to coincide with the last Friday of Ramadan and Al Quds Day.

The IDF yesterday dropped leaflets across the Gaza Strip to warn residents not to approach and damage the border fence or commit terrorist acts against Israeli civilians and security forces.
The leaflet warned Gazans not to “jump to conclusions without understanding the matter in its entirety,” and that “a wise man takes into account the consequences of his actions ahead of time, and chooses the path whose benefits outweigh its potential damage. If you consider this in deciding whether to approach the security fence or cross it, you will conclude that this action is neither worthwhile and is liable to be severely detrimental”.

The IDF also called on the residents of the Strip to not “permit Hamas to turn you into a tool to advance its narrow agenda. Behind this agenda is Shi’ite Iran, which has made it its mission to inflame tensions in the region for the sake of its religious and sectarian interests”.

The IDF’s assessment is that Hamas is working to bring tens of thousands of activists to the border and there will once again be a risk of high numbers of Palestinian casualties, given Hamas’s intention to try to commit terror attacks and to breach the fence to infiltrate Israeli territory.

In addition to the ground forces, the Iron Dome anti-missile defence system will be reinforced to intercept any missiles or mortar shells fired from the strip, while the IDF is also prepared to send drone into the sky to intercept kites fitted with firebombs. 600 kites fitted with firebombs have been flown into Israel causing 250 fires that have destroyed 4,300 acres of agricultural land and nature reserves.

Israel has urged the Hamas’s leadership via Egyptian mediators to keep the situation calm.

On Sunday the Israeli Cabinet will discuss new proposals to improve the economic situation in Gaza and prevent a humanitarian crisis. The cabinet is expected to be presented with a number of options, including Intelligence Minister Yisrael Katz’s plan for a port on an “artificial island”. They will also discuss a large reconstruction program prepared by UN Envoy to the Middle East Nikolay Mladenov.