BICOM

Israeli security forces are preparing for more violence on the Gaza border today.

Protests are expected this afternoon, after Friday prayers. Hamas will transport Gazans to five locations on the border and today’s protests are called “Friday from Gaza to Haifa,” to symbolise the protesters’ aspirations to return to Israel, as well as supporting a demonstration recently held in Haifa where 21 people were arrested.

Yesterday kites carrying firebombs were launched from Gaza and ignited fires near the Israeli communities of Kissufim and Ein Hashlosha. In the past month, at least 300 such kites have been flown across the border destroying large areas of agricultural land.

A senior officer from the IDF’s Southern Command told journalists that Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) had improved their combat techniques over the past several weeks, including the ability to launch missiles and mortars from underground positions and using timers to delay launches until their fighters were no longer around to be targeted. He also described the links between Israel’s enemies on its northern and southern front, arguing that if Iran finds itself in trouble in Syria, it could use PIJ to attack Israel as a distraction. “[PIJ’s] command centre is abroad, and from there it receives its orders with Iranian consent. The group has already approved terror attacks against us,” he said.

Referring to the missile attack on Israel this week, the IDF official said Hamas only joined in after the IDF struck targets in response to the two initial round of missiles fired by PIJ. He admitted that Israel was the closest it had been to war since Operation Protective Edge in 2014.

Foreign Office minister Alistair Burt visited Gaza this week and pledged to support the International Committee of the Red Cross to keep hospitals open and functioning. He committed £1.5m from the UK to help provide physical rehabilitation services for around 4,000 people. He said the funding “will help to ensure that hospitals which are under immense pressure are able to cope with the increased number of casualties who need medical and surgical care. It is absolutely vital that the UK steps up to help those suffering and ensure that vulnerable Gazans are able to access treatment to keep them alive.”