Thousands of Palestinians rioted near the Israel-Gaza Strip border on Monday in a Hamas-orchestrated demonstration over the planned move of the U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem on Monday afternoon and in preparation for a bigger protest marking Nakba Day – the "catastrophe" of Palestinian displacement during Israel's 1948 war of Independence – planned for Tuesday.
The Israel Defense Forces deployed massive forces near the border, including special forces, snipers, and sappers. A defense official told Israel Hayom it is the largest deployment in the area since Operation Protective Edge in 2014, and that troops were deployed on the security fence and in nearby communities.
Palestinian media reported that as of noon Monday, some 10,000 protesters had arrived at the border, and that Israeli troops had used tear gas to push protesters away from the fence. The Palestinian Health Ministry said at least 25 people had been killed and at least 500 others were wounded by IDF fire.
Riots also took place in several locations across Judea and Samaria, with Palestinian protesters hurling rocks and firebombs at Israeli troops.
Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman posted on Twitter on Monday, "Few are the moments in a nation's life like the one when the world's greatest power recognizes our sovereignty on our capital, Jerusalem.
"We are ready to counter Hamas' threats to disrupt our celebrations. I advise the residents of Gaza: Do not be fooled by [Hamas military leader Yahya] Sinwar, who sends your children to sacrifice their lives for nothing. We will defend the [Israeli] people with all the means at our disposal. We will not allow anyone to breach the border."
Since Sunday, the IDF has been dropping warning leaflets into Gaza, urging residents to stay away from the security fence and stressing that any attempt to breach the border will be met with force.
Hamas, the terrorist group that rules the coastal enclave, said tens of thousands of Gazans are expected to head to the border. It said it would not prevent the masses from rushing the border, something that could trigger a lethal Israeli response.
"Hamas' control of the events is evident in its blatant incitement to violence, its calls on Gazans to arrive at the border, the [protests'] logistical organization, and its control over events taking place near the security fence. These acts prove that Hamas has abandoned all of its restraints and it is openly acting to intensify riots and violence on the border," the IDF Spokesperson's Unit said in a statement.
"The IDF is prepared for a variety of scenarios and is determined to defend Israel's sovereignty and the Israeli public. We will not allow security infrastructure to be compromised and we will neutralize anyone seeking to undermine Israel's security," the statement said.
On Sunday, a day after yet another terror tunnel near the Israel-Gaza Strip border was destroyed by the IDF, GOC Southern Command Maj. Gen. Eyal Zamir said, "Hamas continues to invest a fortune in a failed effort instead of caring for its population, which is in dire straits.
"Hamas is solely responsible for Gazans' distress. The IDF calls on the citizens of Gaza – do not approach the security fence. Do not cooperate with the Hamas terrorist organization. We will continue to defend the border and the Israeli public."
Heads of Israeli communities near the border received a special security briefing on Sunday, although the military has not issued any special instructions for them or the southern homefront in general.
Defense officials said Hamas was likely to use the protests planned for Monday and Tuesday to create additional momentum that would stretch the protests over several days. The terrorist group hopes Gazans will make dozens of attempts to breach the security fence so that Hamas operatives can use them as cover to infiltrate Israel and carry out terrorist attacks.
Military officials said the IDF plans to use an array of unmanned aerial vehicles to counter incendiary kites and balloons, which Palestinian protesters have been using to harass IDF soldiers and set fires to farms in the communities near the border.
The Israel Police and the Fire and Rescue Services also held situation assessments on Sunday and are on high alert in the southern district.
On Monday, the Shin Bet security agency said its intelligence shows Iran is funding Hamas' border riots campaign.
"Hamas forbids its operatives to approach the border, fearing that they will be killed or captured by the IDF, unless the security fence is breached, in which case they must infiltrate [Israel] armed, under the cover of the masses, and carry out terrorist attacks," the agency said in a statement.
During the past seven weeks of violent protests along the Gaza border, Israeli security forces have arrested a number of Palestinians, including several Hamas operatives who breached the border. According to the Shin Bet, their interrogations yielded information on the methods used by Hamas to destabilize the border area, breach the fence, and attempt to carry out terrorist attacks inside Israel.
"From the information we have, it appears Hamas is encouraging and sending protesters to the border in order to carry out violent acts and damage security infrastructure. In addition, it was found that Iran is providing funding to Hamas in order for it to carry out these violent activities along the Gaza security fence," the Shin Bet said.
"The IDF and the Shin Bet will continue in their determined efforts to prevent any attempt to infiltrate Israeli territory and to defend Israel's citizens and sovereignty," the agency said.
