Israeli security forces were on high alert Friday ahead of a mass Hamas-orchestrated march on the Israel-Gaza Strip border.
The terrorist group that controls the coastal enclave had originally called a march, and a mass rush of the Israeli border, for Tuesday, when the Palestinians marked Naksa Day, which mourns the Arab defeat in the 1967 Six-Day War, but later decided to postpone the march to Friday, as it is the last Friday of the Ramadan holiday, which this year also coincides with Iran Quds (Jerusalem) Day.
Israeli officials said the move was a ploy by Hamas to capitalize on what is the last major date on the Muslim calendar for the next few months that the terrorist group could use as an excuse to urged Palestinians in Gaza, the West Bank and east Jerusalem to take to the streets.
Bracing for potential violence, the Israeli military has deployed additional troops to the border, including special forces, intelligence and combat units, snipers and sappers. Security forces have been ordered to prevent a breach of the border at any cost, but they have also been instructed to exercise maximum restraint so as to minimize the number of Palestinian casualties.
Military officials said they expected a riot that could be 40,000 strong. Palestinian protesters are expected to clash with Israeli troops relentlessly and are likely to throw stones, firebombs and grenades, place explosives on the security fence, fly incendiary kites across the border and carry out terrorist attacks, raising the chances of bloodshed.
According to Palestinian media, there has been a growing call on social media to join a group of protesters who plan to march on the border wearing outfits resembling Nazi concentration camp uniforms. Israeli media described the move as being "in particularly bad taste."
Solidarity protests are expected to be held in the West Bank, east Jerusalem and Israel's Arab sector. The Israel Police declared high alert and bolstered deployment in dozens of locations. The defense establishment held a special security assessment on Thursday after which it was decided that, despite concerns, Israel would not limit Muslim worshippers' access to Al-Aqsa mosque so as not to further exacerbate tensions.
The IDF on Thursday dropped leaflets across Gaza warning the Palestinians against approaching the security fence.
"For your own benefit, it is better that you not participate in the violent demonstrations on the fence, not attempt to breach it, and not permit Hamas to turn you into a tool to advance its narrow agenda," the leaflets read.
Palestinian media reported Friday that Israeli drones destroyed thousands of tires the Palestinian had placed by the border ahead of the demonstrations, with aim of torching them. There was no military confirmation for the report.
Since Hamas launched its border riot campaign on March 30, Israel has repeatedly presented proof that Palestinian terrorists used the cover of thick smoke to carry out attacks and try to breach the border.
One of the biggest concerns for Friday's march remains kite terrorism, a defense official said.
Palestinian social and mainstream media featured reports saying over 1,500 incendiary kites are ready to be launched over the border.
Over 350 fires have been sparked in Israeli communities near the Gaza border since the Palestinians launched their incendiary kites campaign in late April, reducing over 7,000 acres of forest and agricultural land to ash, causing tens of millions of shekels in damage and affecting every community in the area.
The IDF said it has adopted the use of drones to intercept incendiary kites and balloons.
Col. Nadav Livneh, head of the IDF's Testing and Quality Assurance Unit, told reporters Thursday that the drones now have "more than 90%" success in downing the kites "but it's not 100% protection," he said.
Israel Fire and Rescue Services are also on high alert as incendiary kites are likely to spark dozens of fires in border-adjacent communities. Firefighting teams from across the country are expected to assist in battling the flames, and a special command post has been set up in Sderot, about a mile from the Gaza border, to coordinate military and emergency services' response.
Defense officials also voiced concerns that Gaza's terrorist groups would fire rockets at Israel, perhaps even targeting communities deeper in the country's south and center. The IDF had deployed Iron Dome defense system batteries in several key locations to counter the threat.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, commented on the planned border demonstrations on Thursday, during a visit to Britain.
"The march in Gaza is not a Martin Luther King [freedom] march. This is a violent demonstration that is part of a violent prowwww. They [the Palestinians] carry weapons and explosives. Hamas pays Gazans to go [to the border]. Fifty of those killed were Hamas operatives – a Hamas spokesman said so himself."
Some 120 Palestinians have been killed in border riots since March 30.
The prime minister stressed that Hamas and Iran were behind the escalation in Gaza. "They want the number of casualties to be as high as possible so that they could say that the Jews kill Palestinians."
Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh on Thursday urged Palestinians to arrive at the border.
"Under international law, we have the right to resist the occupation by all means possible, including by military struggle, if necessary. Our goal is a dignified and peaceful life and prosperity," he said.
"The marches to the Gaza border have led to important breakthroughs on the Gaza issue. We must continue with the March of Return until the siege on Gaza is lifted," he said, referring to the blockade Israel and Egypt placed on the enclave after Hamas seized control of Gaza from the Palestinian Authority in 2007 in a military coup, "and we must do so peacefully, to bring about the destruction of the world's largest prison walls.
"We do not seek confrontation but the enemy must know that aggression will be met with aggression," Haniyeh said.
Also on Thursday, the IDF released footage of an exercise simulating a massive strike on Gaza. The footage, released as means of deterring Hamas and Islamic Jihad, showed hundreds of military aircraft striking terror targets while countering various combat scenarios on multiple fronts.
