JERUSALEM: Israel said it was reinforcing troops around the Gaza Strip on Thursday as Palestinians continue protests along the border that have often been met by lethal Israeli fire.
The language of the Israeli military statement did not appear to herald any imminent offensive in Gaza but seemed to suggest stronger action against attempts to breach Israel’s fence around the besieged enclave during the demonstrations, which began in March.
Since the protests began in March at least 193 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli fire, Gaza medics say. One Israeli soldier has been killed by a sniper.
The protesters demand the easing of an Israeli-Egyptian blockade of the territory and rights to lands Palestinian families were driven from on Israel’s founding in 1948.
The Israeli military said it “decided on wide-scale reinforcements in the southern command in the coming days and the continuation of a determined policy to prevent infiltrations into Israel from the Gaza Strip”. Israeli media said the new deployment included Iron Dome rocket interceptors, indicating concern that Hamas or other armed factions could attempt cross-border launches. — Reuters
Oman Observer is now on the WhatsApp channel. Click here
