Israel: Gaza March ‘Dangerous’ Provocation, Hamas to Blame for Any Violence

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Mar
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The Foreign Ministry on Thursday sent out its official talking points ahead of the massive march on the border with Gaza by Palestinians living in the Strip on Friday.

The main point stressed to Israeli diplomats around the globe was that any violence that takes place during the March of Return would be on Hamas’ heads.

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Dr. Mustafa Barghouti, a member of the PLO’s executive committee, told Haaretz that these talking points show “that Israel is preparing itself to explain a violate response. This is more proof that Israel’s intentions are to kill protestors. It’s a license for killing. The event is not organized just by Hamas, but by all the Palestinian groups. We call on all the international organizations to prevent a massacre from taking place. This is a peaceful nonviolent resistance."

Israeli soldiers listen to a briefing on the Israeli side of the border with the northern Gaza Strip, Israel, March 29, 2018 AMIR COHEN/ REUTERS

Ofir Gendelman, the prime minister’s spokesman in Arabic, tweeted that: "Would it not be a shame? That’s what will happen to those who will try to cross the border between Gaza and Israel. As every Palestinian in Gaza knows, Hamas does not sent its leaders to the border and it knows very well why," he wrote on Twitter.

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– Tweet

The march on Israel's southern border, organized by #Hamas in #Gaza, is a deliberate attempt to provoke a violent confrontation with Israel.​​​

Responsibility for any clashes that may arise lies solely with Hamas & other participating Palestinian orgs https://t.co/sIpHZSdtHi pic.twitter.com/wpGmkq2FoO

— Israel Foreign Min. (@IsraelMFA) March 29, 2018

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"Do not get dragged into their attempts to take advantage of you during the #FaudaMarch," using the Arabic term for chaos, adding: "You’ve been warned."

The English-language document, titled the "Hamas-led Confrontation Campaign," details the main points of Israel’s public diplomacy on the Friday march on the Gaza border:

  • The campaign organized by Palestinian leaders is in fact a dangerous, premeditated provocation meant to fan the flames of the conflict and increase tension.
     
  • Israel has the right to defend its borders and to prevent infiltration into its sovereign territory.
     
  • In the last two weeks, there has been an increase in terror attacks on Israel, supported and encouraged by Palestinian leaders.
     
  • For almost eleven years, Hamas has ruled the Gaza Strip, preferring to continue the conflict at the expense of the welfare of the Gazan people.
     
  • Hamas uses its resources for armament, smuggling tunnels, and other militaristic purposes, instead of investing in the civilian infrastructures in Gaza.
     
  • Hamas is spending more than $10 million to finance the current confrontation campaign, paying Gazans to get them to participate.
     
  • Hamas’s primary goal remains to destroy Israel.
     
  • Hamas continues to exploit the civilian population of Gaza as human shields.
     
  • Israel continues its humanitarian support of Gaza, allowing entry of goods, electricity and water as well as the passage of people via Israel for medical reasons.

    • Israel’s defense establishment believes that the army will succeed in preventing Gazans from crossing the border into Israel during the March of Return scheduled for Friday, even if that means Palestinian deaths.

    >> Israel’s Tear Gas and Tanks Will Confront Palestinian Marchers. But Brute Force Can’t Be Israel’s Only Answer | Opinion

    Defense officials said Gaza residents do not seem eager to take part in the event, but Hamas is making efforts to bring as many of them as possible to the fence on Friday. As a result, the troops may have to deal with a particularly large demonstration.

    Over the last few days the Israel Defense Forces has warned that it would open fire on anyone who tries to breach the border fence and enter Israel.