Last update - 00:00 25/02/2008
IDF to use 'all means' to stop Gazans breaching border during mass march
By Amos Harel, Avi Issacharoff and Yuval Azoulay
The Palestinians are planning to hold a mass rally today in the Gaza Strip to protest Israel's economic sanctions against the Hamas-controlled area. As part of the demonstration, the protesters are scheduled to march toward the Erez crossing in the northern Gaza Strip.
The Israel Defense Forces has bolstered its forces along the border with the Gaza Strip, fearing that the rally's participants will try to break into Israel. Commanders have received orders to stop entry into Israel "by all means," including sniper fire against the legs of the demonstrators.
The organizers of the demonstration are planning a "human chain" which will stretch along the main highway running north to south in the Strip.
The head of the Popular Committee Against the Siege of Gaza, an independent member of the Palestinian parliament, Jamal al-Hudari, who is close to Hamas, said that the chain will stretch to 40 kilometers in length, from Rafah in the south to the Erez crossing, and will include 40,000 children.
He said that the demonstration will wind down with a rally near the crossing point.
Hudari insisted that the organizers have no intention of the human chain becoming party to a confrontation with the IDF, and said their aim was only to hold a peaceful protest. However, it appears that Hamas, which is behind the planning of the march, intends to help with the transfering of thousands to the area where the demonstration will be held.
It is also possible that the demonstrators will approach the Erez crossing or other border crossings, in order to confront the army.
Palestinian journalists said yesterday that Hamas is likely to bring school children to Erez and other potential sites of friction, who will be sent near the crossings to throw stones, as the cameras are rolling.
The same sources said that the events will be similar to those at the Western Wall Tunnel in 1996, and there will be no rushing the fence - only challenging the troops from afar.
In Southern Command and the Gaza Division, special orders were issued yesterday on how to prevent a possible breach of the fence by demonstrators, as Haaretz repored yesterday.
The command decided to substantially bolster the presence of troops near the fence, and the rules of engagement issued include various levels of warning, including, in cases where it is necessary, the use of live ammunition "selectively."
The commanders on the ground were granted a certain latitude of independence in deciding when it would be necessary to open fire. Senior officers in the Southern Command visited the fence area yesterday morning in order to closely oversee the preparations to counter the demonstrations while means for dispersing demonstrations were distributed to the troop.
Border Police units that specialize in crowd dispersal have also been sent to the area while for its part, the police will also upgrade its readiness level to a notch under maximum. Police units will also be transferred south in order to bolster the IDF in blocking any breach to the fence.
Defense Minister Ehud Barak said last night that "Hamas is behind this activity that is intentionally placing the civilians at the front - and not for the first time."
"Israel does not intervene in demonstrations inside the Gaza Strip, but it will defend its territory and will prevent a breach of its sovereign borders," Barak added. "We are working to prevent a deterioration and we are making it clear if something happens, the sole responsibility will be on Hamas."