Tensions Mount In Gaza Strip Ahead Of Planned Mass Storming Of Border

Another weekend and another flare-up in the Gaza Strip, as the Israel Defense Forces struck a Hamas “training camp” overnight; this, after four Gazans breached the border earlier in the day before attempting to set fire to machinery the Israeli army is using to construct an underground barrier to neutralize the threat posed by Hamas attack tunnels. The latest conflagration comes as the terror group will hold a live-fire military exercise in the enclave on Sunday, and as Israel continues to boost its forces along the frontier ahead of a major protest later this week. The “Mass March of Return”—during which thousands of Palestinians are expected to storm the borders with Israel—is scheduled for Friday, the eve of the Jewish holiday of Passover which this year coincides with Land Day. Palestinians mark the latter occasion to commemorate an Israeli decision in 1976 to expropriate territory in the Galilee, a move that sparked widespread rioting resulting in the deaths of six Arab-Israelis. The Israeli cabinet was set to finalize operational plans aimed at containing the demonstrations at Sunday’s weekly meeting.