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IDF: Hamas Has Decided to Restrain Gaza Border Riots
(Jerusalem Post) Anna Ahronheim - IDF Southern Command head Maj.-Gen. Hertzi Halevy last week discussed the March of Return protests along the security fence with Israel. "We know the intentions of Hamas. They say that they would like to breach the fence with thousands of people, then infiltrate with hundreds and then have small teams of five to six people - each with guns and grenades - in order to kill civilians. We must stop these crowds from breaching the fence because, if we fail, the challenge will be much bigger five minutes later." Halevy noted that approvals to shoot are given by senior commanders, and a debriefing is carried out following every bullet fired. "We haven't found even one incident of a soldier intentionally shooting into the crowd, even on tough days." He added that in recent months the border protests have seen a "dramatic" decrease in the number of deaths and injuries after Hamas decided to restrain rioters by putting their own troops between protesters and the security fence.