August 10 marks the 20th week of the weekly Hamas-led riots at the Israel-Gaza border, prompting a riot that has so far resulted in two Palestinians dead and more than 300 are injured, according to Palestinian media.
According to the Israel Defense Force (IDF), there were 9,000 Palestinians rioting and hurling projectiles at IDF soldiers, as well as attempting to breach the Israel-Gaza fence:
Approx 9,000 rioters are gathered along the security fence between Gaza and Israel. They are burning tires and hurling rocks, explosive devices, and firebombs at IDF troops and the security fence
— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) August 10, 2018
IDF troops are responding with riot dispersal means and acting in accordance with standard operating procedures
— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) August 10, 2018
IDF troops also identified an infiltration attempt into Israel. Suspects infiltrated Israel before returning to the Gaza Strip
— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) August 10, 2018
IDF troops also identified an infiltration attempt into Israel. Suspects infiltrated Israel before returning to the Gaza Strip
— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) August 10, 2018
Per usual, the riots featured Palestinians launching fiery kites into Israel, according to the Times of Israel (TOI).
The Jerusalem Post reports that the rioter who attempted to breach the fence “immediately backtracked into the Gaza Strip. According to TOI, Hamas’ Gaza Health Ministry is claiming that one of the dead Palestinians was a 25-year-old journalist.
The riots began in March and was dubbed by Hamas as a “March of Return” to protest Israel and to bring attention to the Palestinian cause. But Hamas’ intentions seem to be more sinister than that.
“The march has two distinct strategies,” the Anti-Defamation League’s (ADL) website states. “The first, through the outwardly peaceful, civilian elements of the demonstration, is to raise international awareness of the plight of Gazans and Palestinians. The second, through the militants who are attempting to approach and attack the border line, is to use the demonstrators as human shields for the group’s terrorist ambitions, as well as to provoke a strong Israeli response that will garner headlines and support for their efforts.”
Iran, a Hamas ally, is also reportedly funding the riots.
Hamas has vowed to continue to incite such riots, even as they are claiming there is a ceasefire between them and Israel.
