The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have increased its presence on the Gaza border today in anticipation of Hamas’s planned ‘million man march’ to mark the one year anniversary of the ‘March of Return’ protests held last year on the Israel-Gaza border.
According to the Israel Defence Forces (IDF): “A Division Headquarters, three infantry Brigades and an artillery unit have been dispatched to enhance the Southern Command” in preparation for the demonstrations, which are expected to be violent.
The IDF and police have also been deployed to form defensive rings around Israeli civilian communities close to the border in the event that hundreds of Palestinian break through the border fence and enter Israel.
There are 28 Israeli communities living within 5km of the Gaza border fence, with a total population of 37,656. Some communities, such as Kibbutzim Erez, Kfar Aza and Nahal Oz, lie only a few hundred metres from the border.
Last year, Hamas Prime Minister, Yahya Sinwar, described the stated aim of the attempts to breach the border as follows: “We will take down the border and we will tear out their hearts from their bodies”.
The use of stone throwing was widespread in the riots, as well as firebombs being hurled towards the border fence and Israel’s security forces. Many protesters carried wire-cutters, knives and meat cleavers whilst charging towards the border.
Of 189 Palestinians killed during the riots, at least 150 of them were found to be affiliated with Hamas or with other terrorist organisations.
