Daijiworld Media Network – Jerusalem
Jerusalem, Jun 26: The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) Southern Command has stepped up security preparations ahead of planned demonstrations near the Gaza Strip's Yellow Line on Friday, amid growing concerns that protests could escalate into violent clashes.
According to military officials, the heightened alert follows the circulation of calls on Arabic-language social media, reportedly linked to Fatah supporters, urging Palestinians to stage protests against Hamas over worsening living conditions in Gaza and delays in post-war reconstruction.
Palestinian activists have said the planned demonstrations are aimed at highlighting the humanitarian crisis in the enclave, including the lack of progress in rebuilding homes and infrastructure and the continued delay in implementing the second phase of a broader agreement intended to end hostilities. Protest organisers have blamed Hamas for the situation.
Israeli security officials believe Hamas has responded by launching a counter-campaign encouraging demonstrations against Israel and international mediators, while also taking measures to suppress internal dissent. According to assessments, Hamas has allegedly targeted suspected collaborators and critics in an effort to deter anti-Hamas protests.
The IDF estimates that Hamas may attempt to redirect public anger towards Israel by encouraging demonstrators to move closer to the Yellow Line, raising concerns about possible confrontations with Israeli forces.
Military officials noted that social media campaigns calling for protests have gained wider traction than previous efforts, making it difficult to predict the scale of public participation. They also pointed to several recent incidents of friction near the border, where Israeli troops reportedly exercised restraint over concerns that those involved were civilians.
"The sequence of events bears similarities to the protests seen several years ago," a Southern Command official said, referring to the mass border demonstrations that took place between 2018 and 2019.
The IDF said it has reinforced forces in the area and will continue monitoring developments closely to respond to any escalation along the Gaza border.