The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) is preparing for a possible march of thousands of Gaza residents toward the Israeli border, the Israeli daily Haaretz reports.
Israel’s main concern is that a Hamas-led mass rally, which would attempt to bring down the border fence with Israel, will result in mass killing of demonstrators.
The IDF has, during the weekend, sent reinforcements to the forces guarding the border.
Amonth ago a coordinated Hamas operation demolished the border fence between the Gaza Strip and Egypt, allowing for hundreds of thousands of Gazans to cross the border into Egypt.
Approximately 1.5 million people live in the Gaza Strip, between Egypt and Israel. The Strip has been placed under an economic blockade since Hamas conducted a military coup last June, taking over the Palestinian Authority’s institutions in the area.
Over the weekend several demonstrations took place in Gaza, where thousands of people protested against Israel and the economic blockade.
Hamas also orchestrated an international "day to break the siege," aimed at showing solidarity with Gaza residents. Anti-Israel rallies were held in a number of Arab and European countries.