«Israel» Masses Tanks, APCs on Gaza Border

Local Editor

The “Israeli” entity has boosted its military presence along the border with Gaza amid top politicians’ calls for a full-scale military campaign like the conflict of 2014, to put an end to the violence and rocket attacks that it links to Hamas.

The “Israeli” Occupation Forces” [IOF] has stationed around 60 tanks and armored personnel carriers at a deployment area near the Palestinian border, according to Reuters, in what may be the largest military maneuver from the entity since 2014’s “Operation Protective Edge”.

In the latest exchange this week, a rocket from Gaza hit Bi'r al-Sab city in southern occupied Palestine, damaging a house, while another fell into the sea. In a series of retaliatory airstrikes Tuesday night, the IOF martyred one Palestinian and injured several more, targeting eight of what it alleges as “terrorist locations”.

Attempting to justify its rapid military escalation, “Israeli” officials claimed the rocket that landed in the sea came “dangerously close” to Tel Aviv. Still, Hamas took no responsibility for the rocket strike and promised an investigation.

In addition to the military response, the entity closed two border checkpoints and instituted a three-mile limit for Palestinian fishing boats. Palestinian officials have already described Gaza as being at a “breaking point,” citing “the 'Israeli' blockade that strangled life and business in Gaza.”

“Israeli” PM Benjamin Netanyahu promised “very strong action” in the event of future rocket attacks, convening his security cabinet as soon as the projectiles hit the ground. War Minister Avigdor Lieberman prioritized showing strength over keeping the peace, reiterating his insistence on a “strong blow” against Hamas “even at a price of moving to a wide-scale confrontation.”

The “Israeli” media seems to be softening the population up for another war, with headlines insisting a full-scale conflict is unavoidable. An Egyptian delegation is reportedly attempting to de-escalate the situation, talking to both sides in the hope of avoiding further carnage.

The rocket arrived in Bi'r al-Sab as if on cue after Lieberman urged the regime to allow a large-scale military campaign against Hamas in Gaza to stop “ongoing violence.” While it set off sirens, it was not intercepted by the entity’s famous Iron Dome air defense system.

While “Israeli” officials lament the “violence” of Hamas as the rationale for their economic blockade and proposed military incursion, most of the violence in recent months has come from the “Israeli” entity. The entity has come under heavy international scrutiny for martyring and maiming unarmed Palestinians taking part in the Great March of Return protest, including medics and journalists clearly marked as such.

Over 204 Palestinians have been martyred and more than 22,000 injured since the protests began in March. The entity has also stepped up its demolition of Palestinian villages to make way for the expansion of illegal settlements.

Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team