Organizers of the Return March in Gaza have already announced another day of violence and confrontations is planned for this coming Friday, 28 Nissan. This week’s highlights are to include the burning of Israeli flags and the raising of the Palestinian flags.

The violence seems to be increasing from week-to-week, as is participation. In earlier weeks it was estimated that there were 17,000 to 20,000 participants but last week, the number given was 30,000. Last week, thousands of tires were set ablaze, sending the area into a cloud of acrid black smoke. Many Gazans then tried to cross the border, using the smoke for coverage but the IDF detected them, firing at them when necessary. As in previous weeks, there were fatalities and injuries last week and earlier weeks.

Israel continues to warn Hamas and organizers that it will not tolerate any compromise of the integrity of the border fence and security along the border, warning protesters to remain on the Gaza side without confronting Israeli forces. Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman refuses to become apologetic, issuing stern warnings to Gaza the IDF will continue acting as it had to protect and defend the southern border.

Hamas is also using the weekly events to turn up international pressure against Israel, insisting “unarmed civilians are targeted by IDF forces”, rejecting any reports of violence by Gazans despite video and photo evidence to the contrary. In the meantime, the weekly violence does seem to have elicited the interest of the UN Security Council, which has been blocked from acting against Israel by the United States, which used its veto power to back Israel.

(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)