A Palestinian hurls stones toward Israeli soldiers during “March of Return” near the Gaza Strip border with Israel. (AP/Khalil Hamra) (AP/Khalil Hamra)
Gaza Israel border

Gazans captured by Israel after being sent by Hamas to Israel’s border revealed the terror group’s deep involvement and exploitation of the March of Return.

By: United with Israel Staff

Hamas is encouraging and sending Palestinians to riot on the border in order to commit violent acts and damage security infrastructure, Israel’s Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) stated Monday.

The Shin Bet based its statement on information derived from Palestinians from the Gaza Strip who were arrested after infiltrating Israel.

For example, Yahiya Eijle, 19, a resident of Gaza City and Hamas member, was arrested in April while making his way into Israel to steal a security camera and cut the Gaza Strip fence. After his arrest, Eijle revealed that Hamas instructed its activists to cut the fence and steal security cameras in order to sabotage and topple the fence and disrupt IDF activity, ahead of the so-called March of Return, a massive Palestinian onslaught on Israel’s border.

He also said that Hamas is using the violence to attract coverage by the international media, but wants it to be seen as “a popular uprising,” and not violent actions led by terrorists.

Hamas terrorists are thus embedded among the rioters and take an active part in the violent protests along the fence, in part by throwing firebombs and using large wire-cutters, Eijle admitted.

Hamas Embedded Among Civilian Rioters

Similarly, Hamas members also supply Gazans with tires and assist them in setting them on fire to create thick smoke. The terror groups also persuades Gazans to infiltrate Israeli territory, throw firebombs and prepare kite-borne firebombs for use by violent terrorists, Eijle said.

Ironically, he said that Hamas terrorists themselves are prohibited from approaching the fence for fear that they may be killed or captured by the IDF, exposing their deep involvement. However, if the fence is breached, then they are to enter Israeli territory armed, under cover of the mob, and carry out attacks.

Salim Abu Daher, 21, a resident of the Gaza Strip, was also arrested in April after infiltrating Israeli territory in order to burn fields and groves.

From his interrogation it was learned that Hamas is financing the violent actions. Hamas members in civilian clothing circulate among violent activists and supply gasoline for the kite-borne firebombs which are designed to ignite and burn Israeli fields, he explained.

‘Life-Threatening Exploitation of Innocent Children’

Another detainee said that Hamas encourages children and young people to cross the fence.

Another three Palestinians, who were arrested by the IDF in May after crossing the fence into Israeli territory, told the Shin Bet that Hamas terrorists in civilian clothes encourage children to try to cross the fence in order to steal IDF equipment.

For instance, a 13-year-old Palestinian was wounded in May while taking part in an attempt to infiltrate Israeli territory in order to steal a security camera at Karni Crossing.

This information “attests to the cynical and potentially life-threatening exploitation of innocent children and civilians by Hamas in order to vandalize and steal civilian and security equipment on sovereign Israeli territory,” the Shin Bet stated.

Israeli Ambassador to the United Nations (UN) Danny Danon on Monday called on the Security Council to condemn Hamas for their “war crimes.”

“Condemn Hamas for the war crimes they commit. Not only does Hamas incite tens of thousands of Palestinians to breach the border and hurt Israeli civilians, but Hamas also deliberately endangers Palestinian civilians,” Danon stated.

“The murder of Israeli civilians or deaths of the people of Gaza – each one of them is a desirable outcome for Hamas,” he added.

“Every casualty on the border is a victim of Hamas’ war crimes, every death is a result of Hamas’ terror activity, and these casualties are solely Hamas’ responsibility,” Danon concluded.