Israeli Air Force jets attacked a Hamas terror target at one of the terrorist group's training camps in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip overnight Saturday in response to vandalism to IDF equipment by four Palestinians who breached the border fence between Israel and Gaza overnight and infiltrated Israeli territory.
The damaged equipment was being used to block off the border, the IDF Spokesperson's Unit reported.
The four Palestinians ran off after an IDF patrol approached them. The border breach was caught on camera and broadcast on the Qatar-based network Al Jazeera.
"The IDF takes any attempt to sabotage security infrastructure or the security fence or any violation of Israel sovereignty – above or below ground – very seriously," the IDF Spokesperson's Unit said in a statement.
"The latest incident in which we identified damage to the security fence and an attempt to set construction vehicles on fire is another serious incident in a series of events around the security fence," the IDF said.
"Hamas bears sole responsibility for what happens in the Gaza Strip and emanates from it," the IDF said in a statement. "The IDF is warning [Hamas] against incidents in which [Gaza] civilians are urged to join 'demonstrations' that are used as a cover for sabotaging security infrastructure and attempts to harm Israeli civilians or IDF soldiers. We will continue to wield a strong hand against any such attempt."
Meanwhile, although preparations were made for tens of thousands of Gaza residents to take part in weekend protests as part of the lead up to the planned "March of Return" that is scheduled to be held as part of the "Nakba Day" events on May 15, only a few hundred protesters turned out for events in Gaza and the West Bank.
Palestinian health ministry officials reported that 15 Palestinian protesters were lightly injured in rioting in the West Bank and Gaza. One demonstrator in Gaza was seriously wounded by live gunfire, the Palestinians claimed.
Officials in the civil arm of Hamas in Gaza who are involved in planning the March of Return told Israel Hayom that the event was expected to draw some 250,000 participants. One senior Hamas official said that "the events of the 30th annual 'Land Day' [to be marked on March 30] will serve as a dress rehearsal for the March of Return."
The Palestinians have allocated at least $10 million to the march.
Meanwhile, Israel continues to prepare for expected unrest. On Thursday, heads of local authorities in the Gaza periphery were briefed by GOC Southern Command Maj. Gen. Nadav Padan.
The local leaders were informed that the IDF was preparing to deploy at the major event near the security fence, and not enter the local authorities.
Shaar Hanegev Local Council head Alon Schuster sent a message to residents over the weekend informing them that "In the coming weeks, the [Israeli] soldiers and the police officers, with the help of intelligence and technology experts, will have to navigate the narrow space between maintaining security and sovereignty and escalating into a mass killing of civilians."
Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories Maj. Gen. Yoav Mordechai posted a message on his Facebook page in Arabic that read, "It's clear that Hamas has failed to govern the Strip. We know that Hamas puts its own needs above those of the population. … It exploits and will continue to exploit the demonstrations for Hamas activity … Hamas is investing money in demonstrations instead of investing in health care, water infrastructure, or the environment."
"Don't allow Hamas to exploit women, children, and an innocent population. We will work diligently and powerfully against any attack on Israeli security infrastructure and any attempts to infiltrate Israel," Mordechai wrote.
