Last week Hamas-sponsored rioters on the Gaza border burned their own aid. This weekend those “peaceful protestors” who only want to murder Israelis and claim victimhood burned the border crossing terminal where the humanitarian aid crosses over to Gaza. In addition they blew up the gas pipeline through which Israel pumps fuel gas.
Just watch this short video to see the extent of the destruction they caused to themselves:
Israeli officials who came to inspect the area were astonished at the scale of destruction:
Military and administrative officials toured the Israeli side of the Kerem Shalom goods crossing with the Gaza Strip Saturday, a day after Palestinian rioters torched gas pipes serving the territory as well as electricity infrastructure and a conveyor belt used to transfer goods into the Strip.
The damage to the crossing is thought to be in the tens of millions of shekels.
On unnamed official told the Ynet news site, “We were astonished by the devastation and destruction Palestinians left in their wake. They’re bringing a disaster upon themselves.”
That last sentence could describe the entire history of the Palestinians, but particularly of Gaza.
Kerem Shalom is the only goods crossing between Israel and Gaza, which already suffers from a severe energy shortage.
Defence Minister Avigdor Liberman has now ordered the crossing to be closed until further notice.
Israel’s Defense Forces (IDF) announced on Saturday that Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman has approved closing the Kerem Shalom humanitarian crossing in Gaza from tomorrow (Sunday) until further notice, due to Friday’s destruction of gas pipelines and the security fence at the crossing.
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Israel’s Defense Forces issued a statement on Friday, saying “The crossing will remain closed until the damages caused by the riots are repaired and will reopen in accordance with a situation assessment. The Hamas terror organization, which in recent weeks has been carrying out terrorist attacks in the guise of riots, is harming the well-being of Gazans and paralyzing their ability to go about their daily lives.”
“Israel and many countries around the world work to deliver goods such as food, equipment and fuel to Gaza’s citizens, initiatives which are prevented by the Hamas terror organization’s actions,” the statement added.
Saturday’s statement from the IDF said that Hamas is responsible for everything that happens in the Gaza Strip.
Watch this clip showing how the terrorists set fire to the crossing:
The following is a list of destruction done to the humanitarian crossing according to the IDF:
-The fuel terminal has been rendered totally unusable.
-Gas pipelines – Damage was caused to connection stations. The main gas line is not functioning at all.
-Fuel pipes – The fueling site sustained fire and fracture damages.
Aggregate conveyor belt – Not suitable for operation at all. Significant damage was caused to the entire structure.
-Grain conveyors, food and livestock – Damage was caused to electricity infrastructure.
-Security infrastructure of the humanitarian crossing* – Damage was caused to fences, light poles and cameras.
Please keep all this in mind next time some do-gooder or an ill-wisher of Israel accuses Israel of “blockading” or “besieging” or “starving” Gaza. The people of Gaza are none of these things. The only thing they are suffering from is the the rule of Hamas which prefers to shoot itself in the foot (almost literally) rather than let Israel help them.
Today, the day that the US Embassy is to open officially, and the day before “Naqba day”, when the Palestinians mark the self-made catastrophe that occurred when they refused to accept the new-born State of Israel and attempted to destroy it in 1948, suffering a reversal of their expected victory, the IDF is expecting Hamas to push 100,000 “protestors” over the Gaza border with Israel, in order to massacre Israelis:
The Israeli military is gearing up for fierce “March of Return” protests along the Gaza security fence on Monday, with more than 100,000 Palestinians expected to take part, and dire warnings from the IDF that hundreds plan to try breach the fence and carry out a “massacre” of Israeli civilians.
The protests are now set for Monday, to coincide with the move of the US Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, and not on Tuesday’s Nakba Day, as was originally expected.
The Israel Defense Forces expects over 100,000 Palestinians to take part in the mass demonstrations and potentially as many as 200,000, something that would indicate a major victory for the Hamas terrorist group, which rules Gaza and has co-opted for its own ends what were originally slated to be weeks of nonviolent protests.
The army’s primary fear during the expected riots is that dozens or hundreds of Palestinians, including Hamas members, will manage to break through the Gaza security fence and wreak havoc in one of the Israeli communities on the other side, attacking residents, starting fires, and destroying buildings.
The military believes Hamas will focus its energies on this style of mass, chaotic attack, but the IDF is also preparing for more direct armed combat, including attacks on troops along the border, or kidnappings of IDF soldiers, as has happened along the Gaza border in years past.
On Sunday night, the IDF Spokesperson’s Unit released a dramatic video saying Hamas seeks to destroy homes, torch farmland and massacre “innocent men, women, and children.”
The video is chilling but its dire warning is vital for all of us to be on guard:
Israel’s Channel 10 news showed clips from what it said were new Hamas videos in which young Gazans were urged into battle against Israel: “Youngsters of the Palestinian revolt… Jerusalem is waiting for your revolution. So show it your firm determination in battle,” one clip urged.
The IDF is taking the threat very seriously indeed:
“The IDF’s preparation includes the additional deployment of a number of combat battalions to the Gaza border, special forces, intelligence collection units, and snipers. In addition, the Central Command will also receive additional combat battalions and intelligence collection teams as reinforcement,” the army said on Sunday.
Hamas’ cynicism is breath-taking (but not surprising to those who know this terror organization):
The riots thus far have stopped short of a full-fledged war, which would likely result in Hamas getting pummeled by the IDF, but have served to direct away from Hamas the anger and frustrations felt by Gazans, who suffer from one of the highest unemployment rates in the world and lack regular access to electricity and clean drinking water.
“They are putting pressure on their people and ‘exporting’ that pressure toward Israel, the Palestinian Authority, and the international community,” a senior official in Israel’s military liaison unit to the Palestinians told reporters on Sunday, speaking on condition of anonymity.
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The past seven Fridays have seen between 5,000 and 40,000 Gazans taking part in the “March of Return,” beginning on March 30 with Land Day, marking the expropriation of Arab land by the Israeli government in 1976 and ensuing protests in which six people were killed, and ending on May 15 with Nakba Day, which commemorates the displacement of Palestinians from their homes amid the creation of the State of Israel.
Gaza rioters run from tear gas used by the IDF to prevent a border-swarming
During these violent protests, Palestinians hurl rocks and Molotov cocktails at IDF troops, roll burning tires at the security fence or try to pull it down with chains. Increasingly, demonstrators have been flying kites laden with containers of burning fuel to start fires in Israel.
Hamas is now looking to take advantage of the new realities in Israel by continuing with its “protests”:
Initially, the IDF believed that these protests would reach their peak with Nakba Day on May 15, but Military Intelligence assessments now indicate that Hamas will seek to “piggyback” on the spectacle of Monday’s US Embassy move in order to draw international attention to their cause.
The contrast between the cruelty and cynicism of Hamas and the morality and humanity of Israel could not be more clear, as expressed by this officer:
The officer from the Coordinator of the Government Activities in the Territories unit said Sunday that Hamas has recently taken steps to increase the stress on Gaza residents, most recently by barring Gaza fisherman from working beginning on Monday.
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“And now, me and my commanders are breaking our heads trying to figure out how to get medicine into Gaza,” the officer said.
They succeeded, sending six trucks worth of medical supplies into Gaza on Sunday.
And that, dear reader, tells you all you need to know about the “March of Return” – it is nothing more than a cover for the attempt to kill Israelis. And if hundreds of Palestinians die in the attempt, well, Hamas consider that a win-win situation.
It is beyond sickening. It is the depth of depravity.
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From a MOT buddy this AM:
Where else on the planet is a terrorist group in charge of an entire population of millions and marches them to their deaths by live fire in an attempt to invade another country for public attention and to brand their neighbours as brutal murderers? Answer…ONLY GAZA!!!!!!!!!!!
Truly, this resembles a low-budget zombie film. But, given the stakes involved, the IDF is going to have to take whatever steps are necessary to ensure the integrity of the border. “Naqba Day” leads right into Ramadan- what lunacy will Israel have to confront from the Dark Agers in the coming month?
Didn’t Iran also do this during the Iran-Iraq war? Or was it the Iraqis? Can’t remember any more. Either way, it’s the same mindset. As you say, like a zombie film.
Also, only the Muslims use their holy month as a launching pad for extreme violence. Every other religion use their holy days for celebrations, festivities, gifts and meals. But Ramadan? Let’s blow up something. Let’s stab some Jews or burn a church. Preferably both.
And the world accepts it as completely normal, that’s the worst of it. Why are they not challenged? I can’t bear it.
Earl’s buddy is absolutely right. And the contrast with the response, world-wide, to Israel’s response to Iran’s attack couldn’t be starker. Bahrein & Saudi Arabia, the US (of course, no contest), much of the EU, sundry other countries world-wide, all agree that israel has an absolute right to protect its territorial integrity.
Yet many of the same people fail to recognise (or even publicly accept) that the dividing line between Israel and Gaza is (at worst) an internationally agreed truce line and, at best, a de facto international border. As such, it is inviolate under international law. It follows that Israel has exactly the same right to protect its territorial integrity as against Iranian rockets. And we’re not talking about illegal economic migrants here, who if shot, as opposed to being thrown back across the fence, there would be a justifiable outcry.
But then this is Israel we’re talking about, of course: virtually everyone’s favourite target when they can’t be bothered to think about the topic.
You’re spot on Brian with your last paragraph: Israel is everyone’s favourite target.
i’ve been having conniptions here watching BBC and Sky. Challenging every Israeli spokesman that our response is disproportionate because “how many Israelis have been killed?”.
How is THAT a question?? Because we know how to defend ourselves it makes it an unfair playing field?? I am outraged! Even though I shouldn’t be, and I should be used to it, I REFUSE to become used to it.
The foreign media are pigs, the way they treat Israel.
Well Thank G-d the US embassy opened and at the same time loads of Gazans/Hamas people killed and injured in unprecedented riots.Of course all the expected sources want Israel reviled and hearings are demanded in the various”humanitarian”forums.But the US stood against them and with us declaring that Hamas is to blame for the deaths,and injuries to everyone including the children.That Israel has a right to defend its borders from these murderous masses.
Today is Nakba day.Is there a Nakba day for Jews thrown off their lands in Arab or pre war Europe?
At least all of Israel (except for some really left wingers)stand with unity against these rioters and with our precious soldiers.
It’s time too,that Israeisl does not have to spend our hard earned money fixing Kerem (not quite)Shalom .Let the Gazans or humanitarian UN do gooders fix it.
Agree with you 100% especially re the Kerem
Shalom Crossing.
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