Amid the backdrop of the interception of a rocket fired from Gaza at Sderot earlier this week, armed Palestinian factions in the Hamas-controlled coastal enclave announced on Thursday that on Saturday they would hold a "day of rage in commemoration of the al-Aqsa mosque fire of 1969."
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The assessment among Israeli defense officials is that beyond their "day of rage," the armed factions will not attempt to escalate hostilities with Israel. With that, the IDF raised its alert levels around Gaza and deployed reinforcements to the area.
Defense Minister Benny Gantz, meanwhile, delivered a warning message to Hamas, via Egyptian intelligence chief Abbas Kamel, that Israel will not tolerate a security escalation and demands long-term quiet in the sector.
The Palestinian factions issued their statement after Israel on Friday morning allowed certain goods and equipment to enter Gaza. Two days ago, Israel also agreed to allow Qatari aid money into the Strip.
Also Friday, meanwhile, Palestinian sources in Gaza told Al-Quds newspaper that armed groups in Gaza were leaning toward relocating the "day of rage" protest from the frontier with Israel to inside Gaza City, in order to reduce friction with IDF soldiers.
According to the paper, the Palestinian factions were considering the relocation following Israel's move to allow the materials to enter the Strip, along with the transfer of Qatari aid money. The Palestinian groups said a final decision on the matter would be made later Friday.
Prime Minister Naftali Bennett warned earlier this week while visiting forces stationed near Gaza that Israel would not sit idly by as Hamas continues targeting Israel.
"Our goal is to provide long-term security to the residents of the south and the Gaza area and we are going to act at the time of our choosing and on our own terms; we won't let any other element dictate its terms to us."
He further noted that "as far as we are concerned there are no fringe groups in Gaza; Hamas is responsible for everything."
Gantz, who accompanied him for the visit, said: "We discarded the old rules after Operation Guardian of the Walls and we are going to uphold this policy."
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