STOPTHESTORM

March 31 from the Gaza Strip

1. Hamas is a terror organization whose declared goal is the destruction of the State of Israel. Hamas seeks to murder Israelis by firing rockets, placing IEDs and building terror tunnels into Israeli territory. Hamas is orchestrating a dangerous, mass-scale infiltration into the State of Israel’s sovereign territory.

2. What is happening on the border with the Gaza Strip is not a demonstration. It is an organized riot, being used as a platform for carrying out terrorist attacks and launching a mass assault on the border fence and breaching it. No sovereign state would permit this.

3. Hamas is the initiator of the riots and has the power to put an end to them at any time. Instead of doing this, Hamas is calling for further escalation and is encouraging terror against Israel.

4. Those killed were carrying out violent terrorist activity. Most of these casualties (at least 10) have been identified as known terror operatives. Israel's riot control actions were precise, in accordance with international law. Israel will continue to act with determination to protect its sovereignty and the security of its citizens.

5. The terrorist organizations make cynical use of women and children, who are purposely sent to the fence to be injured. Hamas uses them as cover for its attempts to carry out terrorist attacks, including placing IEDs on the fence and launching rockets.

6. The fence between Israel and the Gaza Strip separates a sovereign state and a terror organization; it separates a country that protects its citizens and murderers who send their people into danger. The fence separates an army that uses force in self-defense in a precise and proportionate manner, and Hamas, an organization that for years has been intent on harming millions of Israelis and sanctifies murder and death. Anyone who mistakenly views in this murderous spectacle even an iota of freedom of expression is blind to the threats facing the State of Israel.

7. Hamas is funded and armed by Iran. It spends huge sums of money on building up its military and on terrorist activity, instead of on the welfare of the population in the Gaza Strip.

by The Jerusalem Institute of Justice

Gaza: IDF Spokesperson Briefing

Talking points from the IDF Spokesperson briefing:

1. This is not a demonstration; it is a terror attack organized by Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad.

2. For several weeks, the IDF has been receiving information on Hamas’ intentions to take advantage of the event to lay IEDs and to initiate terror attacks. These events actually occurred, including the firing of light arms – two events, laying of IEDs – 4 mines were placed alongside the fence with Gaza, and hundreds of events of stone throwing and lobbing of Molotov cocktails.

3. Hamas is attempting to redirect the frustration of the citizens of Gaza with its failures towards Israel.

4. The area surrounding the fence is a combat zone against terrorist organizations. Hamas is aware of this, and therefore sends women and children into the area, hoping to provoke the IDF into uncontrolled shooting resulting in multiple cases of innocent casualties. Most of the participants in the demonstration (a total of 30,000 participants) were women and children, while all the casualties are of combat age, aged between 18 and 30, and for the most part are known members of terrorist organizations.

5. Hamas attempted to repeat a previous attempt of placing an IED in a flag, similar to an attempt several days ago, which wounded four soldiers.

6. IDF fire was controlled and in accordance with standard procedures. It is known where every bullet hit. Claims of hundreds of Palestinian casualties refer for the most part to inhalation of smoke or as the result of riot control procedures. Hamas intends to turn the fence area into an area of constant confrontation from now until Nakba Day on 15 May. The IDF won’t permit this, and if the events continue will be forced to attack Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad targets in the Strip.

7. The State of Israel has no interest in harming innocents, neither women nor children. We are acting only to prevent terror and violation of Israeli sovereignty. It should be remembered that this is an attempt to violate an undisputed sovereign border. No country would permit this.

8. Claims that this is a demonstration are baseless. In what demonstration do activists draw weapons and shoot at the other side? In yesterday’s events this occurred twice. Four IEDs were placed, hundreds or Molotov cocktails were thrown, including attempts to ignite Israeli mechanical equipment that was parked on our side of the fence. There were also three failed attempts at high trajectory fire during the night.

by The Jerusalem Institute of Justice

Gaza Passover Riots

Evening update on the situation in Gaza:

Thousands of Palestinians are rioting in five locations throughout the Gaza Strip, rolling burning tires and hurling stones at the security fence and at IDF troops, who are responding with riot dispersal means and firing towards main instigators.
The IDF has enforced a closed military zone in the area surrounding the Gaza Strip in accordance with situation assessments. All activity in the area requires military consent. There are no special instructions for Israeli citizens throughout the Home Front.
With a reinforcement of troops, the IDF is prepared to respond to the violent riots planned throughout the Gaza Strip if needed. The IDF views with great severity any breach of Israeli sovereignty or damage to the security fence. The Hamas terror organization endangers the lives of civilians and uses their own lives for the purpose of terror. The Hamas terror organization is responsible for the violent riots and everything taking places under its auspices.

IDF - Situation update from the Gaza Strip: 17,000 Palestinians are rioting in five locations along the Gaza Strip security fence. The rioters are rolling burning tires and hurling firebombs and rocks at the security fence and at IDF troops, who are responding with riot dispersal means and firing towards main instigators.
With a reinforcement of troops, the IDF is prepared to respond to the violent riots planned throughout the Gaza Strip, if necessary. The IDF views with great severity any breach of Israeli sovereignty or attempts to damage the security infrastructure. The Hamas terror organization endangers the lives of the people of Gaza and uses them to camouflage their terror activity. The Hamas terrorist organization is responsible for the violent riots and everything taking place under its auspices.

IDF: A seven year-old girl was sent across the Gaza Strip border by the Hamas terror organization, where IDF troops identified her.

Upon realizing she was a child, IDF troops ensured she returned safely to her parents. The Hamas terror organization cynically uses women and children, sending them to the security fence and endangering their lives.

IDF: Commanding Officer of the Southern Command, Maj. Gen. Eyal Zamir: "We are identifying attempts to carry out terror attacks under the camouflage of riots. We urge citizens to stay away and warn the Hamas terror organization, which is responsible for the violent riots and everything taking places under its auspices."

Video documenting sabotage attempts that took place during today’s events.
http://videoidf.co.il/300318-CL-01.mp4

IDF: A short while ago, the IDF thwarted an attempted shooting attack by a terror cell in the Northern Gaza Strip. During the attack, two terrorists approached the security fence and fired towards IDF troops. In response, IDF troops immediately fired according to the rules of engagement, targeting the terrorists as well as targeting three nearby terror sites belonging to the Hamas terrorist organization with tank fire and IAF fighter jets. No injuries were reported and no damage was caused.
This severe shooting attack is further proof that the terrorist organizations in the Gaza Strip use these violent riots in order to camouflage terror.
In addition, IDF troops fired towards suspects who had infiltrated into Israeli territory from the Gaza Strip via the security fence.
The Hamas terror organization is responsible for violent riots and everything taking place under its auspices. The IDF will not allow the security fence to be turned into an area of terror.

Video documenting an attempt by terrorists to infiltrate Israel that was thwarted by the IDF.
http://videoidf.co.il/300318-CL-03.mp4

by The Jerusalem Institute of Justice