Former Hamas Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh and former Hamas leader Khalid Meshal have announced the protest seen this past Friday along the Gaza fence will continue and increase in ferocity.

They vowed to increase the battle “against the occupation to liberate Palestine”. Meshal addressed a forum in Turkey, where he was visiting, insisting the march this past Friday was peaceful, one including women and children, accusing the IDF of premeditated murder of the victims. Gaza now reports 15 deaths as a result of IDF gunfire, failing to mention the violent confrontations and attempts to cut the border fence and enter southern Israel.

Foreign Ministry officials praised the handling of the events on Friday, as the European Union is calling for an independent transparent inquiry into the deaths. Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman earlier in the week defended the actions of the IDF as well, rejecting calls for a probe, insisting the actions of the IDF were justified and necessary. His words were backed up by Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu.

There are rumors circulating that Gazans are gathering tens of thousands of tires for another round of border confrontations this Friday, which will be the last day of Pesach.

(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)